No Fear of the Dark

Year 6-Day 59: Today, I am grateful we don't have to be afraid of the dark.

Times are changing. In truth, I don't know that people have changed all that much, just the avenues of expression with modern technology. When darkness lies in the human heart, it strikes out when given the opportunity. There is free will... but on the other side, there is power and hope.

It all goes back to a bad decision in a garden. A pride and arrogance that grew out of listening to the voice of the serpent. Free will was a gift uniquely given, but it came with great responsibility to trust the truth that on tree was forbidden. It was for their own good to avoid that tree. They did for a season. Then, at Satan's suggestion, they began to doubt God. They abandoned trusting His word or his truth. Everything changed. 

The battle between good and evil is not just theology. It is real. We can look around and see that truth. On this last day of "Love Month", I am reminded that we are in the season called Lent. The forty days before Easter, when we celebrate a love that was willing to step down from heaven and fight the biggest battle of all. The battle over our death sentence caused by sin.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23 (NLT)

I love that in the newer translations with more scholars to dig up the gems from the original Greek and Hebrew texts, free is emphasized. It is not a double negative. Some gifts have strings attached. Not this one, the free gift of God  is eternal life through Jesus. No need to fear death. He shed light into our darkness and changed everything. 

"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 (NLT) 

We don't have to fear the dark. I find that the listening to too much news makes me crazy. I like to get a "snapshot" to know what is going on in the world, but unless my hands and feet can help, obsessing over the dark in the world builds anxiety. We need to be educated and help where we can. We need to pray for our leaders and protectors. We can lift our hearts to the throne of God, knowing that he hears our cries. 

We no longer remain in the dark, when we call on His name. He sheds light in our darkness. Sheds is a perfect word. If you have ever had a pet that sheds? It is everywhere, even long after the pet is gone. The price of Christ blood and the essence of his love sheds into our struggles and breaks the chains. (Good morning earworm, "Chainbreaker" is the song of the morning.)

"All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us." -Revelation 1:5 (NLT)

Imagine that kind of shedding of light. It conquers darkness every time. One small match or candle flame disperses the darkest night. Every time.  

Every time. 

Today, I am grateful we don't have to be afraid of the dark.