Pierce the Dark

"I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark." - John 12:46



If you were to go on an excursion, when would you use a torch? Would you use it during the day or in the dark of night? If you're like most people, you use it at night. Why? The torch shines just as brightly in the light of day as it does after dark. So there must be a reason that it is only used in darkness.


There's a simple explanation. A torch pales in comparison to the light of the sun. It doesn't even make a noticeable difference in its surroundings.


It's kind of like God's light in a Christian's life. A torch is needed more when it is dark. God's light is needed more where darkness is overwhelming. Yes, we are supposed to let our light shine. Yes, we are supposed to make that light visible to those around us.


But there's more to it than that.


God wants us to do more than shine. He wants us to carry His light into the darkest places. That's where He is needed the most. He wants us to carry His light to those places where people cannot see what is holding them back. Those places where people have given up all hope. Because His light illuminates their lives and their paths. It brings hope when they can see what is coming next.


It's hard. I'll be honest. Carrying God's light into those dark places is hard. And it can be scary. Evil loves darkness because it can hide there. But just because we can't see those obstacles or anything coming our way doesn't mean we shouldn't go. In fact, it's the very reason why we should. If things look hopeless from the outside, imagine how the people trapped in it feel. Carrying God's light there eliminates that hopelessness. First of all, it allows the torch bearer to see what is around him or her - including the good that was originally hidden and can now give him or her hope. Secondly, it draws other people to the Light; it allows them to see a difference and to see hope and shows them how to light their own torch.


That Light God wants us to carry is amazing. It can't be explained or even understood. But earlier this year, God helped me understand a part of it by comparing it to the Olympic torch. The Olympic torch is actually quite fascinating. Obviously, the relay is different every Olympic year, but the torch has been transported through some very interesting places and in interesting ways. But there is one thing that really stands out to me right now.


The Olympic torch has been carried through places that should have extinguished its light - including underwater.


God used this fact to teach me the most important thing about His Light. Nothing can extinguish it. Have you ever carried a candle into a dark room and had the flame go out on you just because it was dark? Of course not. In fact, the light from the candle actually got rid of the darkness. God's Light inside of us is the same way. Nothing can extinguish it - not rules or laws or pressure from people. Not even Satan himself can extinguish that Light.


So carry His Light. Don't be complacent about it. Just because the Light inside of you is shining doesn't mean everyone can see it. The people who need it the most are so lost in darkness that they will only see His Light if you carry Him to them. So do it. Pierce the darkness with the Light of the World.

Take Our Place

Suppose a friend has promised you an amazing house - a house for you and your children and your grandchildren to live in forever. All you have to do is complete a challenge and then step onto the property. And your friend will even help you complete the challenge. What would you do?

Well, I hope you're not like the children of Israel who came out of slavery in Egypt. The God who rescued them out of slavery promised them a land overflowing with milk and honey. It was a land they and their descendants would be able to live in forever. He would help them overcome all the enemies who stood in their way.

But the children of Israel saw the size of their enemies. They saw their enemies, and they were scared. So instead of going into the Promised Land, they turned away and ran. They told their God, "We don't believe you can do this. We're scared. We don't want what you've promised us." (In essence anyway. You won't actually find that as a verse in the Bible.)

So what happened? They were made to wander in the desert for forty years. Until God had raised up a generation who would take Him at His Word. A generation with leaders who would step up and say they could win. With leaders who obeyed God. A generation who would take possession of their promise.

You see? There's a secret to receiving God's promises. God doesn't just give them to you. He makes them available and provides a way for you to possess it. But you have a part in it. 

You have to trust Him. You have to know what He says is true. You have to know that His promises are good. You have to know that He will help you take them.

You have to obey Him. When God says to go, you go. When He says to stop, you stop. When He speaks, you listen. When He says to believe, you believe. When He says to watch in wonder at the work He does, you watch in wonder as He does it.

You have to face the obstacles in your way. Getting to what God has promised you isn't always easy. There's normally something in the way of your promise. For the Israelites, it was the Canaanites and the city of Jericho. For you, it could be lack of resources or funds. It could be an extremely large task. Or it could just be that you are surrounded by people who don't believe what God told you. Either way, you have to look past it at what God has promised you. Then you have to trust that He'll move that obstacle out of your way, that He'll destroy anything that comes against you.

Finally, you have to actually take possession of the promise. When it is in your hands, in your grasp, don't let it go. Don't give your promise to someone God did not promise it to. It's your promise. Don't let someone else take control of it.

It takes a generation.

So, will you accept the promise? Will you possess it? God needs us to take back what He gave us.

So join with me. Let's be "a generation, rising up to take their place."