How to Be a Light in a Dark World
I was very afraid of the dark as a kid. And to be completely honest, I’m still afraid of the dark now, as a grown woman in her thirties. During the day, I absolutely love my home and feel completely safe being there. I hear the groans and creeks of the house, and I don’t falter. I don’t stop what I’m doing to check out every noise. I know that it’s just the house making normal house noises, and I go on with my life.
But at night? That’s a completely different story. For the most part, if my husband stays asleep, I can convince myself that the loud thump I just heard wasn’t anything to be concerned about. But some nights, my reaction is a little different.
A loud thump in the night can lead me to violently shake my husband awake until I can convince him to go check out the entire house and make sure we’re safe. To make sure a thief isn’t trying to break in to rob our things and steal our sense of security.
My poor husband is a saint, because most of the time he gets up without complaint and checks out the house while I sit in my bed with the covers pulled up to my nose.
So far, it’s never been a thief. Just the normal thumps and bumps that houses make as they get older.
So what is it about the night that scares me so much more than the day? Or rather, why does the light feel so much safer than the dark?
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How to Be a Light in a Dark World
We live in a dark world friends. I’m sure you’ve noticed, but a lot of bad things happen all of the time. And unfortunately for us, this horrible trend will continue until the second coming of Jesus.
So in the meantime, what are we, as Christians, supposed to do? We need to learn how to be a light in a dark world, and we need to point others to the light of Christ.
Follow Jesus.
John 8:12
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jesus calls us to be a light in this dark world, and the way we do that is by listening to what Jesus has to say and by obeying His commands.
Jesus himself is the Light of this world. He stands out like a beacon for those lost in the darkness. And when we follow Him, we are safe in His light and that same light shines through us and out to others. The more we listen and obey, the closer we are to the source of the light, and the brighter that light can shine through us.
Position yourself to share your light.
Matthew 5:14-15
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
As we are filled with Christ’s light, we are called to share that light, rather than hide it away and try to keep it for ourselves.
We are to position ourselves in a way that we cannot be hidden. As I live my normal, everyday life, I sometimes find myself censoring my faith because I don’t want to be viewed as “that” Christian. The one who non-believers (and sometimes believers) call crazy religious. The one who brings God into every conversation.
But as I’m growing in my faith, I pray that any fear that is keeping me from becoming “that” Christian is stripped away from me, and that I can be strong and courageous with my faith.
I want to position myself on the hill. I want to make sure there is no way that who I am as a follower of Christ can be hidden. That my life shines so brightly, it’s unmistakable of whose I am. I want to learn how to be a light in a dark world so I can help others who are lost in the dark.
Let your works reflect your faith.
Matthew 5:16
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
As we are called to position ourselves where we can’t be hidden, we are also called to “shine before others” in a way that glorifies the Father through our good works.
Our works matter. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26); meaning, if we claim to have faith but don’t act on our faith, then we don’t truly have faith at all (James 2:18).
So when we have Christ’s light inside of us, we are to share that light with others by doing good works. We won’t achieve our salvation by these works (Ephesians 2:8-9); instead, we will glorify the Father in heaven by acting as the hands and feet of Jesus.
Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to be the light of this world.
I am so grateful to know Jesus, and I am so grateful that the closer I am to the source of the light, the brighter I shine in this dark world. I pray that as Christians, we all strive to be a light in a dark world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I am afraid of the dark. So in my home, very few places are actually dark. We have small nightlights scattered around every room of the house, so in the middle of the night, I can walk with confidence and not be afraid.
As a Christian, I have a responsibility to do the same for other people. I need to reflect the Light of Christ onto every person I see, providing them with a glimpse into the love Christ has for all people. I want to learn how to be a light in a dark world so that others can have the same confidence I have to walk through the darkness and not be afraid.
Blessings Friend.
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