Liv
Extracts of Truth & Encouragement from a Growth Journey with God
Emerging from the Darkness
He’d come to visit me when I was on my own and single. My little brother and I had planned ahead of time to take in a concert at a nearby college. The artists performing both professed to be believers. As the opening “act” began, the gym was pitch black. Deep red lights began to progressively fill the stage. I don’t remember every detail, but the posture of the lead singer, her motions, and wardrobe, amidst the darkness and red hues, left an impression on my soul: pure light was missing. A growing urge stirred within me that I could not dismiss. I remember turning to my brother and letting him know something was wrong; there was a dark presence that I didn’t want to be part of, and, even at his young age, he said he could feel it, too. We quickly left the gym together and sat for the entire set of that “performance” in the entrance area of the building. I remember gaining more than we were “missing.” Not only did we unite in our desire to flee the darkness, which still unites us today, but we solidified our relationship through good conversation, time spent together (which is a love language for us both), and a strong bond built through the action of following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
From the beginning of the earth, God divided the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:4). In Scripture, light resembles purity, holiness…God Himself.
“We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it. When this life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life which was with the Father and was made known to us. What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ…Now the message that we have heard from His Son and announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in Him.”
1 John 1:1-3, 5 GNT
Darkness is where there is no light, so it, logically, resembles sin, evil…Satan, the enemy and opposer of God.
As we remember Christ’s death for us and celebrate His resurrection, I want to marinate on something. Whether or not you’ve noticed it before, I hope you’ll take the time to reflect on the fact that God always has a purpose! Some people dismiss the Old Testament as “old,” but all of Scripture purposefully points to Jesus!!…
For instance, do you know how Moses told Pharoah to let the LORD God’s people go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to keep a pilgrim feast (Exodus 5:1) and sacrifice to Him (Exodus 3:18)? Do you remember how God brought 10 plagues on the land of Egypt, because Pharoah refused to do what the LORD God commanded in letting His people go? Let’s look at the ninth plague–darkness–and one of its purposes.
“So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days.”
Exodus 10:22 NLT
“They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.”
Exodus 10:23 ESV
We’re not talking the kind of darkness that seems dark, but is invaded by the light from the city around. We’re talking darkness, like the sun went down and is no longer in sight…like “I know you’re there, but I can’t see you” kind of darkness…so much so that the people of Egypt didn’t stand up from the place they were seated or laying for THREE days!
Take a look at another set of verses that took place while Jesus was dying on the cross…
“It was already about noon, and the whole land became dark until three in the afternoon.”
Luke 23:44 ISV
“The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle.”
Luke 23:45 NLT
“Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Father! In Your hands, I place My spirit!‘ He said this and died.”
Luke 23:46 GNT
It was about noon (Jewish time) when darkness filled all the space above the ground; this was the time when the sun would have been directly overhead, but the sun stopped giving light. It stayed that way for THREE HOURS! During this time, Jesus was alive, but our sins (pictured through the darkness) were placed on Him before His death.
“This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.”
Luke 23:54 NLT
“The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee went with Joseph and saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed in it.”
Luke 23:55 GNT
“Then they went back and prepared spices and perfumes, and on the Sabbath, they rested, according to the commandment.”
Luke 23:56 ISV
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared [to finish anointing the body].”
Luke 24:1 AB
“Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for One Who is alive?”
Luke 24:5 GNT
“Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death…”
Luke 24:6a CEV
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV
“Then Jesus, again, spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
John 8:12 NASB
Jesus, the Light, fulfilled the promises of God in Scripture! I hope you can see the connection throughout Scripture between darkness, sin, and opposing God as well as Light, forgiveness, and following God. God divided darkness and light in the beginning, and He is still dividing those who oppose Him and are in darkness from those who follow Him; I hope you have chosen to follow God today and experience walking with Him, because you have believed in Jesus, confessed your sin, and received forgiveness through Jesus, the Light of the world!
4 Comments on “Emerging from the Darkness”
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Liv 
This is so insightful and thought provoking! I love how you bring so much TRUTH to show the light! Thank you!
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Praise God for revealing it!! He continues to fascinate me!!
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I love how you “shed light” on these threads woven between the old and new testament. We fail to see the whole message of God when we study more heavily one part of the Bible rather than the whole. So rich, Thanks Michelle
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He is SO purposeful! We miss so much; it’s true! I’m praising Him for revealing the things that are there, yet we miss, sometimes.
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