are you afraid of the light?

There used to be a show on Nickelodeon growing up called, "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" While I was not afraid of the dark, I was afraid of that show. 

I think in our society today, the more appropriate question is.... "Are you afraid of the light?"

"Why am I so afraid of the dark but I stray from the light?" - Sanctus Real, These Things Take Time

"The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil." - John 3:19

"It ain't the dark that I'm afraid of, it's the light." - Joe Purdy, Good Days 

We all have darkness in our lives. It's what we do with that darkness that matters.

We are called to go directly to God, straight to the source, the creator of life, for guidance.

I have to admit, sometimes it's the last place I go. Not the first. I often want to call a friend or family member and hear some immediate, concrete words... Dare I say I might even call a specific person because I know they will say what I want to hear?

We all want answers. But we want the answers that we want to hear. So much of this world and the places we tend to look is only false hope, lies... darkness.

"We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows." - Isaiah 59:9

This world will tell you to go see a therapist, read your horoscope, see a palm reader...

"When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?... If they do not speak according to the Word, they have no light of dawn... Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness." - Isaiah 8:19-22

"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." - 2 Corinthians 11:14 

God is the light. The one true light. The creator of light.

"I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other." - Isaiah 45:5-6

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." - Isaiah 9:2

God doesn't guarantee there won't be darkness in our lives. There will always be darkness. We live in a fallen world. But He will light our way, illuminate our path, be a light at the end of the tunnel we may find ourselves in. 

We may stumble but we will not fall.

"For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." - Psalm 56:13

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." - Psalm 55:22 

We can choose to ignore our darkness... though we probably won't get very far. The clouds in our lives will be illuminated by the sun soon enough.

"Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, 'Who sees us? Who will know?'" - Isaiah 29:15 

"'Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?' declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 23:24 

"The things one most tries to hide are often the things most easily seen." - Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow

Have you noticed that the clouds aren't so pretty when there's no sun to illuminate them?

But when the sun is above the horizon? Well, I'll let this one speak for itself.

God can turn our darkness into light. He can use the clouds of our lives to create the most beautiful sky. If we let Him. 

It's our choice... Darkness or light? 

I'm choosing the light. I won't be afraid. To the light I will run.

"Into marvelous light I'm running, out of darkness, out of shame." - Chris Tomlin, Marvelous Light

Because God is faithful. He will bring hope into our darkest hour. He will bring light into our darkest of nights. He will save us from the darkness.

"But I call to God, and the Lord saves me." - Psalm 55:16

"Even in the dark, you can still see the light." - Matt Maher, Hold Us Together