Living as Light in the Dark
It’s that time of year again when natural light is diminishing.
The days are getting shorter and the sun is lower in the sky, adding a faint haze to its glow. Our natural response is to curl up, hunker down and hide away.
Science shows that our bodies tend to respond negatively to the lack of light, both physically and emotionally.
And although many beautiful things accompany the transition from summer to winter, our bodies’ deep-rooted love and need for natural light is challenged. We try to embrace the positives of the autumnal chill with snuggly blankets, hot chocolates and open fires.
So, what is it about light? We crave it, we seek it, we look to it. Countless numbers of us fill our homes with candles, fairy lights and glowing lamps. Light brings warmth, stimulation and focus.
Light of the World
“Let there be light” were the first words spoken by God over His creation. We needed light in our world. Life can’t flourish without it.
Jesus said it of himself “I am the light of the world,” in John 8:12. “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
We were made to carry His light within us, shining out into the darkness. When it’s bright and sunny, it doesn’t take much courage to shine our light. But as the darkness closes in and looms around us, the temptation to run and hide sets in.
It’s not a question of opposing forces. Darkness and light are not equal.
There aren’t many nights when the darkness seems greater than on Halloween.
Every year when I was younger, when Halloween came around, I knew families who would turn off the lights and hide upstairs, hoping nobody would knock on their door. The fear of the darkness was just too much.
How we, as Christians, engage with Halloween is a constant debate. Should we hide away, covering our lamps out of fear, or see it as an opportunity to display God’s light? It’s a question raised every October, but I don’t see it as an exclusively seasonal issue. There is always darkness is our fallen world and it doesn’t just come in the form of vampire masks and fake blood.
The Big Question
Fundamentally, we always have a choice about how to engage with darkness. The reality is that it’s a feature of the fallen world around us. We only need to watch the news or read the headlines to be faced with the acute awareness that there are things not of God around us.
But as Christians we always have hope. We don’t just know the answer to the pain, suffering and heaviness, we carry the answer. With Jesus living inside us, we radiate His light wherever we go. Harnessing the power of the Holy Spirit we can choose to be the bright, shining beacon of hope that the world around us so longs to see.
It’s not a question of opposing forces. Darkness and light are not equal. Darkness may seem powerful and overbearing but as soon as you add so much as a faint glimmer of light then the whole atmosphere changes. Think of a candle in a pitch black room… all of a sudden there is enhanced vision and the ability for purposeful direction. The same is true for those around us. Although it may feel to some that they are consumed by darkness, the very presence of Jesus will alter their whole perspective.
The world around us seems to be obsessed with ‘celebrating’ Halloween, but I don’t think it’s because people are attracted to evil. I think, beneath it all, there is a desire for fun and connection. There might be some strange appeal in dressing a 5 year old as a witch or out-grossing each other with the most gruesome costume but ultimately I don’t think people want to be glorifying the demonic.
As Christians we don’t have to say no to fun, or deny connection or shrink away from community events.
All these can be found in Jesus.
Where do we fit?
For some it may be that they’ve never heard His name. Others may not be aware of the hope that He brings. Still for others, they may not understand their need for His bright presence in their lives.
Jesus is the light of the world and when we follow him, we walk in the light. If we don’t follow Jesus then we walk darkness. There is no other light outside of Him. We can’t make our own light or find it from other sources, we must draw directly from the eternally bright presence of Jesus himself.
And we were created for light. We were created for Him. Because He is the light, we can be assured that when we walk with Jesus we are where we were created to be.
In Matthew 5, Jesus describes US as the light of the world. He has given us His light to carry within us and shine wherever we go and through whatever darkness we may face. Jesus instructs us, “Let your light shine before others”. We are to confidently let His light shine, positively impacting every area in our lives and the lives of those around us.
We do not have to fear the darkness around us because His light is shining on the inside. Steffany Gretzinger writes it beautifully in her song Blackout:
“Light of the world
It's the name we were given
Can't get away from the vision
We are cities on a hill
In a blackout
We will illuminate the dark
They won't escape the beaming
We will glimmer, we will glow
You can't turn out a light shining from the inside”
If I’m confident in Jesus and confident of His glory shining in me then I can bring radiance wherever I go. I needn’t be fearful of all the ghastly horrors the world seems to obsess over at this time of year; even if it’s “just for fun”. I can honour Jesus by beaming brightly the message of hope, joy and peace that He declares.
Jesus is the radiance of the Father, and He will fill the world and everything in it with light. Jesus is the light of the world. In this period of tension between the ‘now and not yet’, I can do my best to ensure that I also fill my world with light wherever and whenever is possible.
If I’m confident in Jesus and confident of His glory shining in me then I can bring radiance everywhere I go.
So what can we offer as an alternative? Maybe you could host your own party to celebrate Autumn. It could even include an alternative fancy dress theme to the ghouls and zombies you’ll see plenty of at this time of year. You could bless your neighbours with sweet treats or have some friends over to decorate some cupcakes. Take the powerful approach of prayer, blessing the treats you give out or prayerfully walking around your neighbourhood everyday this week in the days surrounding Halloween. If the world is desperate for connection, hope and fun then we can show them where to find it. Jesus is the ultimate source of all they are looking for.
Jesus longs to see loving, connected communities. If we look to Jesus as the guiding light, use His word as a lamp to our feet, then we will be able to shine His joy and goodness to the world around us.
Shine out among them like beacon lights, holding out to them the Word of Life.
Philippians 2:14-16
Triumphant Beam
Don’t be fearful of putting yourself out there with your neighbours or in our communities. We are on the winning team! It’s not as if Jesus is fighting for victory. He is fighting FROM victory. He’s already beaten the darkness. He already has the glory. His eternal light will shine forever.
We don’t have to hide from Halloween. Instead, use it as an opportunity to shine His light in the darkest season. We battle with dark things on this earth because the enemy wants to steal and destroy. But with Jesus within us we access His victory. Be a bright beacon of hope to all those who are lost in the undergrowth. A guiding light to those trapped in the thorns of pain and the thickets of oppression. We can embrace the fun and the sweetness whilst still pointing to Jesus.
Be empowered by the light you carry.
Be bold knowing that even if it seems dark where you walk, the light is WITHIN you. Of course you could hide away but then how would people ever know there’s a better alternative? How will your friends and neighbours realise that glorifying evil doesn’t have to be the only way to celebrate this changing season? Embrace the fun. Enjoy the treats. Emit his light.
How do you engage with Halloween? Are you a hide in the dark or go out, lights blazing kind of girl? What action will you take this week to be a beacon of light in your community?
