Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
Pitch Dark
I grew up in the country and, for most of my life while living at home, we didn’t have a big yard light, just a front porch light. We parked our vehicles in the detached garage, which meant we walked from the garage to the back door at night with no light. I suppose we used a flashlight on nights when it was pitch dark — I really don’t recall. Eventually, Dad had a light installed on a big electric pole so we could see clearly at night. I still live in the country and on nights when the moon is full, I can see good enough to go walkin’ after midnight without a flashlight…not that I do, but I could.
The Word of God teaches us extensively in the Old and New Testaments that Jesus is the light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT). Before accepting and embracing Jesus as our personal Savior, we’re living a life that’s as black as pitch. But when the True Light (Jesus) indwells us, the darkness is vanquished.
Because Jesus is the source of spiritual enlightenment, He reveals the truth and guides us out of the darkness of sin and ignorance. Christ is the Word that was in the beginning with God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1,4 KJV). Jesus was with the Father from eternity, but He became man to pay the price for mankind’s redemption from sin.
As the “Light of the World,” Jesus didn’t only occasionally do the will of the Father, He always did the Father’s will. As Christ followers, Jesus is our example. It’s imperative to know what the Father’s will is, and the best way to discover it is to study His Word. I wonder if that’s why some believers neglect to read their Bibles. We become responsible for the light we receive while discovering what God‘s Word is saying to us. When we ignore the personal revelation of the Holy Spirit’s light, it’s called “walking behind light.” Believers are to receive the Word of the Lord with willing hearts and be obedient to walk in the light we‘re given. God and the believer enjoy fellowship with one another on the basis of walking in the light of God. Fellowship is maintained with the Father as we continue walking in the light He reveals to us. To walk in all the light involves being tender-hearted, obedient, and acknowledging any darkness the Lord might point out.
My dad served as song leader at church and he would often select #379 “Stepping in the Light.” The lyrics, by Eliza Hewitt, are still relevant: “Pressing more closely to Him who is leading when we are tempted to turn from the way. Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us, happy, how happy, our praises each day! How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior, stepping in the light, stepping in the light! How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior, led in paths of light!”
Have you ever met a vehicle at dusk with no lights on? I always wonder how long it will take the driver to realize he’s actually driving in the dark? It’s not a good thing to slowly become acclimated to the dark; and that can easily happen without obeying the light of Jesus in our hearts.
The Key: Believers are to be obedient to live in all the light we’re shown.