From Dark to Light

The process of seeing is something that very few people give any thought to as it’s something that we take for granted until we start losing it. For me, this took place at a rather young age as I was fitted for glasses when I was about seven years old so I have always known how significant eyesight is. Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to see as they were born blind or became blind later in life.

One of the first friends I made at the gym I went to when I was a teenager—a powerlifter that was the same size as me but had large forearms and biceps—has a genetic disease known as retinitis pigmentosa which is a rare disease where the cells in the retina breakdown. The best way he explained this to me is looking through a pair of binoculars but he is only able to see what is visible through those two small lenses. The situation is worse is someone gets to the outside of his vision such as being on the side and his situation always reminds me that regardless of how big and strong a person is, they are vulnerable like the rest of us.

When I think about how easy it is to switch on a light and we go from light to dark, it amazes me at the simplicity of the act but it’s also a reminder of how a Christian is transformed. Walking this world without Christ is living within darkness and we know this from the testimony and the witness of every Christian’s testimony of their new life compared to their old life. While it may be silly, one of the best examples of how most people view the light, though, comes from God Almighty when God turns on a light but it’s too bright for Jim Carrey and this is something that God, played by Morgan Freeman, hears this often.

John 1:5 reads “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Too many people see the light, God’s light, but it’s too bright for them or, they are unable to comprehend it. While it’s not difficult to receive God’s light, there are times when it is difficult to live by God’s word. God’s light never leaves us just like His word never should but living a Godly life in a secular world is difficult. Think of the story of David. This was a man after God’s own heart but he loved different things of this world including beautiful women but being a Christian is not about being perfect but rather, doing God’s will the best way you can.

John 11:10 tells us that “But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.” Of course, the principle stands up if we are walking in the dark without a light but this scripture is telling us that if a man walks without the light of God, he walks in darkness because the light is not within him. Because we do not have the light of God, we fall prey to everything around including our enemies and temptation and as we see from David, none of us are exempt from temptation.

When we accept Christ as Lord and live by His word and let His light guide and protect us, we are transformed. While my friend will always have to live with his condition, we the people below do not have to walk without Christ and do not have to succumb to anything here below as we are children of the light. God will rescue us from anything here below and we will always be within sight as there is nothing that Christ can’t see. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 reads “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” which should encourage us all regardless of any medical condition or weakness we may have as we literally go from dark to light.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

–John 1:5