The Light in the Midst of Darkness

In a prophetic message about the Messiah, God’s Suffering Servant, Isaiah foretold:

I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

Not only is the Lord Jesus the Light of Israel, but He is also the Light of all nations. From the very beginning of time, God planned to bring forth a bride for His Son from all nations. He told Abraham, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3; emphasis added). All nations of the earth were meant to be partakers of the heavenly blessing, including you, dear reader.

Hopefully, you have reached a point where you ask the big questions about life: "Who am I? Why am I here? What reason do I have for living? Where am I going?" These questions can be depressing if you do not know the Light of the World, Jesus the Messiah. A person in darkness stumbles around, trying to see the next step ahead. Finding direction in life is hard in spiritual darkness.

A person who comes to Christ begins to understand who they are, their purpose in life, and where they are headed. Light symbolizes knowledge and understanding, whereas darkness signifies ignorance and worldly things. The more insight a person gains into how this world is structured, the fewer obstacles they face as they walk through life. Light also represents illumination, revealing truths that were previously hidden. The light will lift you upward and elevate your spirit. Darkness keeps people in bondage and conceals the truth.

There are times in our lives when we face significant difficulties, and everything seems dark, but no matter what darkness we walk through, Christ will be our light. When we lose a loved one and it feels like darkness is closing in, or when we are sick and want to stay in bed, or even hope to die, it’s often because we have lost hope and light—no reason to live and no perception of eternity with God. These are the times when God wants to reveal Himself to you personally if you seek and ask Him. He will not come where He is not welcomed. He has given us free will to walk towards the light or remain in darkness. Coming to Him and learning about Him will bring us much light to help us through difficult times. It is written of Jesus, “By his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11).

Many people experience darkness in their lives as they pursue their desires and stumble through life without direction or knowledge of God. During times of darkness, God speaks and draws people to Himself. Those who follow Christ discover that, even when faced with great trials, the Lord is with us and has promised never to leave or forsake us. Jesus said, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness” (John 8:12). We must submit to His guidance, take our direction from Him, listen to His voice, and meditate on His Word.

Those walking with God sometimes face painful situations, which God uses as opportunities to teach, strengthen us, foster perseverance, and develop the character of Christ in us. The Scripture says, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19). It is not enough to merely look at this light during our trials; we must press on toward Him, for His light is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). We all wish we could see further down the road of life and know what lies ahead, but God has only promised light for the next step, not for the next mile or year. Why is that? Because He wants us to trust Him during the dark and difficult times.

Shortened from the more extended study at the following link: Jesus, the Light of the World