Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night and injured yourself by walking into a wall or stepping on your child’s toy? Why did that happen? It was because you couldn’t see in the dark. Have you ever wondered why we were afraid of the dark as children? Or maybe you still are. It’s the fear of the unknown. We are afraid of what might be there, not necessarily what actually is there. And how do we solve this problem? It’s simple, all you have to do is turn on the light. The bible is full of references about darkness and light. As a matter of fact, in the very beginning, in Genesis, darkness is the word used to describe how things were before God began to speak the creation into existence. Genesis 1:1-2 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” But then He said, “Let there be light.” And there was light, and God said it was good. But what was this light He called forth? Did you assume it was the sun? He didn’t create the sun until the 4th day, which begins at verse 14. So again, what was this light? In order to define the light and begin to answer this question, we need to start by looking at the opposite or enemy of light. Which is darkness.
What is darkness? Darkness is simply what we call the absence of light. Darkness doesn’t actually exist on its own. You can’t add darkness to light in order to dim the light...but you certainly can add just a small amount of light and totally eliminate darkness. Because when light is present, darkness by definition cannot survive and therefore is destroyed. That’s why darkness can never defeat light. Scripture teaches us this. John 1:4-5 “4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Satan is known as the prince of darkness, but Jesus is The Light of the world. As you can see, in scripture, Darkness doesn’t just mean nighttime. Darkness represents ignorance. Also, Light doesn’t just mean daytime. Light represents knowledge. Mankind has understood this for thousands of years. The dark ages were known as a time that Europe plunged into darkness from lack of scientific and cultural advancement. The dark ages were considered to be from the fall of Rome in about 500AD until the Italian Renaissance period began about 1,000 years later in 1,500AD. The Roman Empire was known for great advances in science, government and architecture. They were able to greatly advance human knowledge, and it was under this background that Jesus entered the scene.
The very first emperor of the Roman Empire was Caesar Augusts. You may remember him from the Christmas story in Luke. It was he who made the decree that all the world should be taxed, which is why Mary and Joseph traveled back to Bethlehem. Jesus was born, just as the Roman Empire began to control the known world. Their system of colonization was the perfect backdrop for Jesus to teach us about the kingdom of God. Jesus sent the disciples out and said to preach the gospel of the kingdom. What was He talking about? He hadn’t died and been resurrected yet, so what was the good news He told them to preach? It was the news of the arrival of the kingdom of God back in the earth. He was there to bring back the order that God originally set up with Adam, before the fall. Jesus came to give us knowledge of the kingdom of God. That’s the Gospel or “good news” of the kingdom He was talking about. And that kingdom knowledge is the light that destroys the darkness of ignorance. Before Jesus started His ministry, there was another man who announced His arrival. It was John the Baptist, His cousin. His job was to let people know that someone was coming who would shine the light of kingdom knowledge for everyone to see. John 1:6-9 “6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”
If Jesus is the true Light of the world, then John was kind of a night light, to help us see enough to get to the main light switch. His message was for people to repent, because the kingdom is near. In other words, get ready, because the light is about to be turned on...and you’re about to be exposed. This was a problem for the religious leaders, because they were not interested in this light. They thought they had all the illumination they needed. They were wrong. Look at how we as believers are described in the New Testament. 1 Peter 2:9 “9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” It’s not a big mystery why a thief would try to rob a house at night. He loves darkness, because he needs the cover of dark to hide his evil. This not just true of obvious criminal activity, it’s also true of everyone who hasn’t come to the knowledge of Jesus as The Light that reveals the truth. John 3:19 “19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” The Bible is very clear about how we are supposed to deal with those who love the darkness. It provides a warning to us.
2 Corinthians 6:14 “14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Those who walk in the light and those who walk on darkness are not equal. We have a huge advantage, because we can see where we are going. This warning applies to dating, marriage, business and any other binding relationship. Those who are walking in darkness and ignorance should not be allowed to affect our life in a negative way. And so we have to be careful to not commit ourselves to them, because we might allow them to lead us away from the light. It does not mean that you should not be friends with unbelievers. How else can you be a light to them? Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 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.” The Word of God, Who is Jesus according to Revelation 19:13, gives us light so we can walk according to the light. Walking in the light...which is an action, requires your mind to be renewed, so that you have the knowledge to make the right choices...and act on them. Ephesians 1:17-18 “17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened...”
If your spiritual eyes are not enlightened you cannot walk according to the light. Matthew 6:22 “22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” Remember when we said that satan was the prince of darkness and in this context meaning the prince of ignorance? We need to understand that any area of our life where we are lacking kingdom knowledge, is an area of ignorance and we are giving satan power in that area of our life. If you are ignorant of what the word says about finances, you are vulnerable in that area of your life for satan to attack. If you are ignorant of what the word says about your marriage, you are vulnerable in that area of your life for satan to attack. He will use any area of darkness against you. But as soon as you have your eyes enlightened with the knowledge of the kingdom, you can rule that area of your life the way God intended you to rule. This is what happens we we accept God’s gift of salvation. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside us and begins to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom. He enlightens our eyes so we can understand spiritual thoughts and words. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 “12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”
We are able to understand through the power of the Spirit what the Word of God is saying to us. It’s no longer a mystery to those of us who are seeking first His kingdom and righteousness. Hebrews 2:14-15 “14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” Why is there a fear of death? It’s actually the same reason that we fear the darkness. It’s just the fear of the unknown. If we as believers, fear death, we are ignorant of what the kingdom says about death. That area of spiritual ignorance allows the devil to attack us using fear as the weapon. Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” There is no reason for us to fear death. It should actually be the opposite. Death for a believer is graduation day. It’s the day we finally get to be in the presence of the Lord. When our mission on earth is done and God calls us home, it should be a celebration over the victory that has been won. Yes, of course, we miss those we loved while they were here, but we have to see it from an eternal perspective and understand that if they were walking in the Light, they just crossed the finish line before we did. If someone I love wins a race, I celebrate for them. So how about you? Are you free from the fear of death, or are you still lacking the kingdom knowledge that will free you from that fear?
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have been set free from the bondage of the fear of death through the resurrection of Jesus. Because of His work, we no longer need to fear death, because we know that death has been defeated and holds no power over us. In order for His work to be applied to you, all you need to do is act on what He said. And He said to repent and accept His gift of salvation. So, I’ll ask again. How about you? Are you free from the fear of death, or are you still lacking the kingdom knowledge that will free you from that fear?
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