The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5 (NLT)
The NKJV says of this verse, “…darkness did not comprehend it” while the NIV says, “…darkness did not overcome it”
Between all the versions, it’s pretty obvious that what the Apostle John was indicating is that light disorients darkness. It can’t extinguish or overcome because it can’t comprehend it!
The power of darkness – what is not of God – is like that of a wet paper bag in comparison to His light. The only power it does have is the power to deceive, to make us think that we are powerless, or that by some peculiar circumstance or mis-deed we are subject to it!
When I was a kid, my parents would take me to a barber to get my hair cut and I still remember him putting his scissors and utensils under a blue light. What he was doing was sterilising them under a UV light.
Light cleanses and cleans; it heals and purifies.
Light’s purpose is not to highlight how bad we are but to envelop us with purity and overcome and extinguish that which is dark in us. It’s purpose is to highlight and draw out the beauty within, the divine nature in which we were created; to point us to the love and strength of our Almighty Saviour.
When it comes to your life, or someone you know, the goal is not to shine a light to highlight failings and sin, it’s to expose His light on everything we come in contact with to cleanse it. Exposure equals cleansing so our job is to BE a light NOT point the light.
Don’t get me wrong, confronting sin is important but it is only effective when done in close relationship. That’s why Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners… to expose them to light! And of course, darkness could not overcome it. Like micro-bacteria under a UV lamp, sin can not continue to exist with constant exposure to His light!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to shine His light. The sin and darkness in and around your life will not withstand it’s cleansing qualities!
Have a brilliant day…
