God Speaking

“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

(Genesis 1: 3)

Dark, ugly stories flooded the media this week, with racial violence escalating in the United States and with the rest of the world embroiled in senseless killings of innocent people, fuelled by hatred. It was hard not to be overcome by feelings of despair for mankind and feelings of being inadequate to do anything about it. Turning to God’s word has always been my solution to try to find the Lord’s directions to his people and to listen to his voice rather than the clamour of the world’s strident shouting.

Scripture describes evil as darkness and it is interesting to see how often that feature is prevalent in literature/poems/cartoons and even in present day violent videos where the evil one wears black. When I was a child an Aunt, who loved the theatre, would take us to the Pantomime and we always recognised the bad one, dressed in black, and we were encouraged to shout out aloud if we could see him creeping up to the heroine all dressed in white. We loved the power we had to help defend our sweet little heroine.

Evil is not so easy to pick in our present day, as it comes in all forms and shapes, but God’s word tells us that light, His Light, exposes what is evil. The message being that we need to stay in that bright light that evil hates so much.

“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3: 19)

Paul goes one step further and encourages us to use light as our armour against evil.

“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13: 12)

So how can we, as normal human beings, have any effect on the rampant evil of today? God’s word tells us how. We have to light up the world with his light and shine so brightly darkness will quiver. Jesus tells us that he is that light so if we stay close to him through prayer and reading his word we will never walk in darkness.

“…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

When we feel that overwhelming feeling of, “what could I possibly do” we can remember that we can shine his light wherever we are. In fact, we are told not to hide our light, but make it visible to all around us by living according to God’s word and spreading his love, so others will be attracted to his light. A great way to dispel darkness.

When I was in Sunday school, this sweet little song summed it all up;

Jesus bids us shine

With a clear pure light

Like a little candle

Burning in the night

In this world of darkness

So we must shine

You in your small corner

And I in mine.