The Light Of The World

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

WERE YOU AFRAID of the dark as a child? Many children are. And whether we choose to admit it or not, even most adults are less comfortable in the dark than we are in the light of day. That’s natural—darkness is mysterious and shrouds our ability to understand our surroundings. It keeps us from being totally aware of what’s around us, which means we aren’t sure what threats or possible harm may be lurking nearby.

That’s physical darkness, of course, but there are other kinds of darkness as well. Many people today struggle with emotional darkness, for example—a phenomenon we commonly label as depression. There are times when the world seems to press down on us and squeeze us until every drop of happiness is gone.

We may also suffer from spiritual darkness. Even for followers of Jesus, there are times when we feel overwhelmed by doubt and despair—times when we can’t seem to connect with God on any level. The spiritual dimension may seem nonexistent. These periods are particularly frightening because they bring into question the trustworthiness of the one who promises to appear beyond the grave. These times can lead us to doubt our salvation or even doubt the existence of God.

When Jesus promised his followers they wouldn’t have to “walk in darkness,” he wasn’t implying they wouldn’t encounter periods of emotional or spiritual distress in their lives. He wasn’t saying everything would be smooth sailing. Rather, he promised to provide the “light that leads to life.” Meaning, even in the darkest circumstances of life, we will always have his presence and his promises to illuminate our path and warm our hearts.