By Charles Newbold, Jr.
I lit a candle and watched the tiny flame randomly flicker about. Neither did it cast a shadow nor shed much light. It was merely absorbed by the light of day.
As the light of day faded into the darkness of night, that little flicker of fire increasingly lit the room. The flame appeared to burn brighter, yet it was the same intensity as before.
The candlelight prevailed over the darkness. The darkness could not snuff out its light. It was interesting to see how a small flame of light could make such a difference. The greater the darkness, the greater the light!
Spiritually speaking of things in the world, the dark is getting darker and the light is getting lighter, and the dingy gray in between is disappearing. It will continue in this direction until we come to the end of this age. The Bible uses these terms often. All that pertains to the Kingdom of God is light. All else is considered darkness.
Jesus said, regarding believers in Him, that we are “the light of the world.” Imagine that! He then added, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all who are in the house.” Matthew 5:13,14.
Jesus intends for us to be light in a dark world. He is the light of the world. We are lights in the world. His light within us shines through us.
Have you noticed how gradually the darkness crept upon us and how suddenly it seems to have engulfed us? We no longer call sin, sin. Almost everything in our society is being redefined to suit our notions of political correctness and social acceptance. Evil appears to triumph over good. We feel powerless.
Men grope in darkness. They lose their way, their sense of direction, their grip on reason, their measuring stick for morality and their hunger for righteousness. They do what they think is right in their own sight. They wag their fingers at God. They bow their knees to the gods of their own making. Yes, these are such times. The dark is getting darker.
We desperately desire to cling to what we have thought to be the day. But don’t you see? The darkness must come in order to shake us from our complacency and reveal the light of Christ. As this darkness thickens, those who are lights in the world will not only shine brighter, but will also light the paths of many who repent from the darkness.
Here’s the catch, though. To be a candle set on a hill, we have to be willing to be set on fire and to be diminished, though never extinguished. We have to be willing to face the taunts and evil workings of the darkness that is in the world—willing even to face martyrdom. Jesus promised it. John 15:20. That is a daunting fact to face, but consider the options: To either be light amidst darkness or to be lost in that darkness.
No more lukewarm. No more fence straddling. We ask the Lord to set us on fire and go forward lest we drift back into the darkness.
Paul, the apostle wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:8. (NKJV). Also read, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6.
Dare to be light and make a difference!
Charles Elliott Newbold, Jr. has served as pastor, teacher and is an author calling forth Christians to live the laid-down life for Jesus Christ. He and his wife, Nancy McDonald Newbold live in Knoxville, Tennessee where Charles continues his writing.