Darkness Versus the Light of Christ
5 min read
24 “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.”
— Proverbs 30:24-28
There is a way for all of creation that has been ordained by God. It is wise to follow in God's way.
All of creation pretty much follows in the way ordained by God, except for humanity. Humanity is the only species on this planet that can conscientiously destroy itself. Humanity is the only species on earth that can conscientiously promote and advance self-extinction.
God has given every animal in creation instincts to survive and live. But to us, God has given intellect, free will, and dominion over the earth. These are reflections of His image in us, given so that we might fill the earth with His glory in Christ Jesus through God-fearing, God-honoring, God-worshiping, God-loving communities and families--the church.
But if we use the intellect, free will, and dominion given to us for other purposes, we are not being wise, but foolish. When we apply the image of God in us for ungodly purposes, we contribute to self-extinction, not self-preservation.
Thankfully, the grace of God is such that even though humanity has used its intellect, free will, and dominion for sinful purposes, God has used those sinful purposes for the general advancement of civilization.
Even so, the word of God teaches us that at some point, God says, "Enough is enough." When sin reaches its fullness on this earth (perhaps with the help of AI?), Jesus will return and make all things new.
Hmm. I was not intending to write my final devotion of 2023 on such a foreboding note. Yet the Spirit of God has led me here.
But the Spirit of God has also always led me to bless and not to curse, to build up and not to tear down, to encourage and not to discourage. And so I will use my intellect, my free will, and whatever dominion God has given me to do so as best as I can.
Despite the darkness of this world, the hope, peace, joy, and love that the advent of our Lord brings are real, and they are real right here and right now. Jesus brings His light into this darkness.
In a strange kind of way, every generation puffs itself up by thinking that the problems it faces are the greatest problems the world has ever know. Truth be told, the darkness we see and experience in this world might be unique to us, but it is no worse than the darkness that has ever been.
The good news, though, is that the Light of Christ has always overcome the darkness, and it always will.
The word of God tells us that in the Light of Christ, there will be no more darkness. And the Light of Christ is with us here and now through faith to bring hope, peace, joy, and love to our lives. So then, let us live in the Light of Christ every day.
Father, Your ways are not our ways, or Your thoughts our thoughts. Make us wise so that we might live in Your ways--to live each day in hope, peace, joy, and love of the Light of Christ. In Jesus's name. Amen.
