DARKNESS vs THE LIGHT
By W. G. Guy
As I observe how people behave, and hear the news reports on TV, I cannot but recognize the terrible darkness, lawlessness and sin that is so prevalent in our society. I cried out to God for the light of His truth to shine and then He inspires me to address this deplorable condition by comparing the darkness to the light.
What is darkness? (as a noun), a) darkness is the absence of light; b) hidden, unable to see or distinguish; c) gloomy, despair, without hope; d) evil, wickedness and sin; e) ignorant, lacking knowledge or awareness.
What is light? (as a noun), a) illumination, making things visible; b) knowledge or enlightenment; c) brightness that exposes.
In the following we are going to consider darkness and light from the biblical perspective since it has great significance in the lives of all of mankind on the earth. Let’s begin with darkness since it is a negative spiritual force, then we will look at the light, which is a positive spiritual force.
Spiritual darkness refers to people being unable to see or recognize the evil, wicked and immoral things in this world: they are walking in spiritual darkness. It is only when the light is turned on that they can recognize their sin and the evil wickedness that is in them. That light reveals what is not seen in this darkness: this is spiritual light that is the Glory of God through the knowledge of Jesus Christ – the LIGHT of the world.
Scriptures on darkness:
Isaiah 5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Most political and governmental leaders are in darkness, being led by the devil, called the god of this world, and they strive to reverse moral codes and practices that God has ordained. Obviously they do not have the light of Jesus Christ shinning in and through them. Thus they lack the knowledge of the glory of God that produces righteousness, truth and morality.
Isaiah 9:2 – The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
This is a prophetic word foretelling that Christ would come to the people of Israel who were ignorant of the spiritual things of the kingdom of God.
Isaiah 60:2 – For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
This is another prophetic word regarding the lack of knowledge of God in all the earth, but the Lord Jesus Christ was to come to enlighten them with His presence and fulfill the plan of God to redeem people from their fallen state of being in spiritual darkness.
Matthew 4:16 – the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.
This is the fulfillment of the above prophetic words regarding the coming of Jesus Christ to bring the light to the world dwelling in spiritual darkness.
John 1:5 – And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 3:19-21 – And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
These two above passages tell us that those who were in darkness, and preferred being in darkness, rejected the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, this same problem continues today in the world, especially in our American society where too many think they are so educated that they reject any spiritual need in their lives, and do not respond to any positive spiritual enlightenment, because they think that they are above the need of God’s moral compass for guidance and direction.
This describes the political environment in America at this time: spiritual darkness of wickedness and evil seems to prevail.
Romans 13:12 – The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
This passage was written to the church in Rome, and obviously tells us that many believers were still living as those in the world and are practicing the immoral ways that are referred to as darkness. This is also true in the church of today where true genuine repentance in needed.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 & 6 – But if our gospel be hid (to be in darkness), it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
In this passage we are told that Satan is the god of this world and has influence and control over people so as to keep them in darkness lest the light of God’s truth should enlighten them. Too many people are willingly walking in that darkness, and as a result they are the servants of Satan to do his bidding in opposing the light and the righteousness that it represents. (Again, think of our current political environment promoting perverted sex and all manner of corruption.) Those that have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord have that glorious light and walk in it as His representatives in this world.
Ephesians 6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
This tells us that there are spiritual and supernatural forces that are in opposition to those who are true believers in Christ. This is described as spiritual warfare, and we are instructed in the subsequent verses to resist and stand firm against these forces being equipped with the spiritual armor that God has provided which is His Word and promises, the name of Jesus and the power of His shed blood. (See also 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.)
1 Peter 2:9 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
True believers once walked in darkness until they responded to the message of the true gospel and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and have thus been turned from darkness to light.
1 John 1:5-6 – This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
In the last days of this age there is much deception that causes people to believe lies, false religions, and worship things other than God and Jesus Christ. Such are still walking in darkness because they have not received the truth but believe a lie.
Scriptures on light:
Isaiah 5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
“Woe” is a notice that such people are going to experience the heavy hand of God’s final judgment upon them if they do not repent of their moral depravity. It expresses that being in the light is the proper way to live, while darkness is the wrong way.
Isaiah 60:1-3 – Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
This verse speaks of how the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the glory of God, and those who receive Him will shine forth as the sons of God reflecting His glory. This will draw those who are searching for truth as moths are drawn toward a light.
Matthew 5:14-16 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This passage is the fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-3 above. However we are instructed to not hide the light we have received, but to let it shine to draw those in need to come and receive the light for themselves. Why would people hide their light? In many places where darkness prevails, those with the light are persecuted, thus some tend to hide the fact that they have this divine light – DON’T DO IT! They fail to realize that light puts out the darkness because light is power; darkness has no power, it just has fear and intimidation.
John 1:4 – In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Simply stated, this is the eternal truth – Jesus is that light; not only to us, but also through us!
John 1:8-9 – He (referring to John the Baptist) was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light (Jesus), which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (It was Jesus that came into the world to be that light to mankind.)
The eternal truth repeated again.
John 3:21 – But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The opposite of this verse means that those who lie, and follow the lies of the devil, do not come to the light but shun it; and their deeds are also manifest just as the evil of which they are.
John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Here Jesus plainly tells the eternal truth that He is the light of life that God sent to redeem mankind; or at least for those who
accept Him.
2 Corinthians 6:14 – Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Light and darkness cannot co-exist because they are opposites. In fact, light puts out the darkness, but darkness cannot put out the light. Darkness is simply the absence of light – so it is incumbent upon true believers to let His light shine in and through them.
Ephesians 5:8-13 – For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
This passage tells of the glorious transformation that occurs when those who previously walked in darkness turned to receive the light and walk in it. They are easily distinguished from those still in darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 – But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
This passage speaks of revelation knowledge, and that those with the light of God live prepared for His coming.
1 John 1:5-7 – This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
This passage is the test and proof of those who have the Light of Life of Jesus Christ in them. Those who love and prefer the darkness, Satan’s evil ways, are those who reject the truth of God’s Word and Jesus Christ. As a result of their rejection of eternal truth they are given over to strong delusion: it is called “strong” delusion because they will not turn from their darkness and evil, but defend it, even violently.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 – and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
What can we conclude from the scriptures that identify the darkness compared to the light? Obviously the term darkness is indicative of godlessness and that which belongs to Satan, the devil, as well as those who live their lives under his influence or control, whether they know it or not! The term light, as used in the Bible, refers to what is righteous, proper, moral and Godly, (or that which is of God). Those that have the light of the knowledge of the glory of God are those who are living and walking in fellowship with Jesus as a child of God, and have His light in them freeing them from the darkness of the evil in this vile world.
What people fail to understand is that there is no middle ground between spiritual darkness and spiritual light; you are either in one or the other. The majority of mankind is in darkness and in need of the light, which is the reason for the proclaiming of the gospel, (the good news of His light), going into all the world. This means that most politicians and government bureaucrats are in darkness and under the influence of Satan. Thus we see the state of affairs in the world with its crime, wars, corruption, addiction and sin being prominent. The only exception to this is for those in leadership positions that have the light of Christ in them, and are thus the children of God, and govern themselves accordingly. Another thing about light; it allows you to see what could not be seen in darkness.
In these last days the light that is supposed to be shining through the church is diminishing; it seems to be getting darker as churches embrace the ways of the world. This is likened to by the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. They all knew of the coming of the Bridegroom, and were waiting for him. However half of them missed out on his arrival, and did not get to go into the festivities with him because their LIGHT WENT OUT. The five foolish virgins were in the dark – and left out in the dark! This speaks prophetically of the church, that approximately half will not be qualified to be joined with Christ when He returns because they were not fully in Him, but held onto the darkness that is in the world and the devil.
Do you have His glorious light in you? Are you shining as a child of God? Or do you need to REPENT of any darkness in your life?
