by Richard Mansel

Are you scared of the dark? In the light we can move about our neighborhoods without fear. Yet as night falls around us the same surroundings develop an ominous appearance.

Our natural fear of darkness is a necessity, because so much evil lurks in the darkness. Those whose feet run to evil are invigorated when night falls. They hit the streets to perform all forms of mischief. As a result, we lock our doors and turn on all the lights to settle our fears.

In John 8:12, Christ says that he is the "light of the world" (NKJV). Light is associated with goodness and righteousness, while darkness is where evil resides. On the paths of life, we are either on the lighted path or wandering in the dark woods. As Solomon says in Proverbs 4:19, the sinner does not know "over what he stumbles" because the holes and traps are smothered in the darkness of sin.

This darkness leads people to seek answers in the wrong places and things. The child who, in his dark bedroom, mistakes a coat on a door for a monster is no different than a sinner looking for answers in the bottom of a whiskey bottle. Both have been misled by the darkness. In the light, both would have seen that these objects had no power over them, unless they had empowered them.

Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness." Darkness leads us to mistake the dangerous for the useful.

Light is the most powerful force in the world. Have you ever considered the power of light? A candle can be placed in a room that is so intensely dark that it appears to latch onto you. Yet the darkness, no matter how powerful, cannot extinguish the candle. We can find extraordinary comfort in that fact. Satan cannot, no matter how hard he tries, make us be lost. The choice resides with us. We have the choice of selecting the path to salvation or the path to destruction (1 Peter 5:9; Acts 2:37,38).

So often we hear people say that they cannot find happiness or the answers to the big questions of life. They are far away from God, and darkness is not only about sin, but confusion. When their world is illuminated by God's light, everything becomes clearer, and better decisions can be made. John assures us that God is good and that no darkness resides in him (1 John 1:5). Additionally, he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Sinners are lost in darkness and cannot find the lighted path that leads to heaven. Christians must take their light into the world to reach out to the lost so that they can find the right path.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:15,16 that Christians are to be "lights to the world." Can we be a light like Jesus? Not exactly. Jesus is the true light of the world. Instead, we become lights when we stay close to Christ, letting his light reflect off of us. When we move away from Christ, our light is no longer seen and our influence brings only darkness.

If you want to find the light of the world, turn to Scripture and a Christian who is truly reflecting the light of the Savior. Christ will then be easy to find (Matthew 11:28-30).