“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” — Isaiah 9:2

Night and Day 

It’s easy for coaches, athletes and fans to get discouraged because nobody wins every game or match. Injuries and misunderstandings often derail our plans.

Though it is easy to adopt a dim view of life, God wants us to look on the bright side. When we see the stars sparkle in the sky during the night or the street lights poke holes in the darkness, we should be reminded to shine a bright light for those around us. Lights help us find our way through the night. When God made the world, darkness prevailed, but He soon turned on the lights. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness He called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day” (Genesis 1:3-5).

Darkness represents sin, ignorance, confusion, deception, evil, nighttime, the devil and his demons. Light represents goodness, knowledge, truth, happiness, God and daytime. Though complete darkness is best for sleeping, and cats, bats and rats like darkness, we generally think of light as better than darkness. Plants shrivel up and die if they have no sunshine. 

People are a mixture of light and darkness, but God is perfect light. “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Before Adam and Eve sinned, they always lived in the presence of God’s light. After they ate the forbidden fruit, they often stumbled in the darkness. Through His infinite mercy, God brings light into our darkness. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).

Therefore, Christians are supposed to bring light wherever we go, and churches should bring the light of truth to every person. As Jesus said to Paul, “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:17b-18).

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.