The Darkness is Real
The Reality of Darkness and God's Gift of Light
Christmas is a season of lights—we string them on trees, hang them on houses, and illuminate our yards to combat the winter darkness. Yet when morning comes, we see the reality: muddy snow, dead trees, and deflated decorations. No matter how many lights we put up, the darkness remains real.
What Does the Bible Say About Darkness?
Before we can understand the good news of Christmas, we must first acknowledge the bad news: darkness is real. Throughout the Old Testament, we see humanity struggling with this reality. From Adam and Eve's shame in Genesis 3 to the violence in Judges, from corrupt kings to murdered prophets, the Bible doesn't shy away from depicting our dark world.
The Two Meanings of Biblical Darkness
When Scripture speaks of darkness, it refers to two key concepts:
Evil - the suffering, injustice, and brokenness we experience
Ignorance - the false belief that darkness can cure itself
Why Do We Stay Awake at Night?
What keeps you up at 3 AM? It's rarely excitement about tomorrow's possibilities. Instead, we wrestle with:
Things we've said or done that we regret
Fears about the future
Broken relationships
Hidden struggles and addictions
The darkness around us reveals the darkness within us. We're most likely to sin when the lights go out, when accountability fades, and when we think no one is watching.
The Problem with Looking for Light in Dark Places
Isaiah 8:19-22 warns against seeking guidance from mediums and spirits of the dead. The prophet asks a crucial question: "Shouldn't people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?"
Today, we may not consult mediums, but we make the same mistake. We look to:
Government solutions
Technology (even AI)
Self-help strategies
Positive thinking
Busy schedules to avoid facing reality
All of these are attempts to find light in the darkness, but as Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Darkness can't drive out darkness. Only light can do that."
What Was God's First Gift to Humanity?
Genesis 1:1-4 reveals that God's very first gift to creation was light—before the sun, moon, or stars existed. This wasn't just any light; it was light that came directly from God's character and glory.
Why Did God Create Light First?
Light serves two essential purposes:
It reveals what is real - exposing truth and reality
It guides toward what is possible - showing the path forward
God didn't create light to judge or condemn, but to begin the creative process of bringing order from chaos, beauty from formlessness.
Why Are We Afraid of God's Light?
Many people fear God's light because they're afraid of what it might reveal. Like a middle schooler hiding a messy backpack, we zip up our hearts and hide our struggles from God. But God's intent isn't to shame us—it's to save us from what happens in the darkness.
When we opened that messy backpack, the goal wasn't judgment but restoration and organization. Similarly, God's light reveals our reality so He can show us what's possible.
Light Is an Invitation, Not a Demand
Notice that when God created light, He didn't eliminate darkness—He separated them, creating day and night. This shows us that light is an invitation. God allows us to choose whether we'll live in the light or remain in the darkness.
Unfortunately, humanity's pattern throughout Scripture has been to cry out for help in the darkness, then turn off the lights when God provides them because the truth is too uncomfortable.
The Promise of Future Light
Isaiah prophesied about a coming light 800 years before Jesus was born. In Isaiah 9:1-2, he promised that "the people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine."
Isaiah 60:2-4 describes what happens when God's glory—His light—rises and appears. Nations will come to this light, and even the lost will be drawn home by its radiance.
The Christmas Story in One Sentence
Poet Wendell Berry captures the essence of Christmas perfectly: "The world gets darker and darker, and then Jesus is born."
This is the heart of the Christmas message. The darkness is real, but the light is real too. God didn't abandon us to figure out solutions in the dark. Instead, He stepped into our darkness with His light.
Life Application
This Christmas, you have a choice: Will you make camp in the dark, or will you make camp in the light?
Stop looking for solutions to darkness within the darkness itself. Stop turning off the light switch every time God illuminates areas of your life that need His touch. Instead, learn to live in God's light, knowing that His purpose is not to shame you but to show you the creative possibilities He has in store.
Questions for Reflection:
What areas of your life are you trying to keep hidden from God's light?
Where have you been looking for solutions to your problems instead of turning to God?
What would it look like for you to stop being afraid of God's light and instead embrace it as an invitation to transformation?
How can you choose to "make camp in the light" this week rather than hiding in familiar darkness?
The challenge this week is simple but profound: When God's light reveals something in your life that needs attention, don't reach for the switch to turn it off. Instead, stay in the light and let Him show you what's possible.
