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Our family once went on a tour of an old gold mine. As we walked deep into the cave, the guide explained what it had been like for the miners who toiled underground for weeks at a time, dependent on oil lanterns to light their way. He then turned off the lights, and we found ourselves in absolute darkness. I’ve never forgotten it. The darkness felt heavy, suffocating, despairing.
Throughout human history, we’ve invented ways to light up the darkness. From oil lamps to electricity to phones with flashlight functions, we illuminate our way when the sun goes down. We do this for good reason; without light, we cannot see to move around. We stumble and trip over things. The darkness makes us vulnerable.
While we may be averse to physical darkness, the Bible tells us that in our natural spiritual state, we prefer the darkness. It equates darkness with sin. It tells us that we are blind to the truth. In fact, we live in a spiritually dark world, filled with spiritually blind people—all who fear the light.
The prophet Isaiah described God’s people as blind to the darkness of their sin. After warning them of pending judgment for their disobedience—for glorying in darkness rather than light (Isa. 5:20)—he then promised hope. He told them of a day when light would burst into the world. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isa. 9:2). This wouldn’t be just any light; this light would bring great joy.
This light would come in the form of a baby (Isa. 9:6). Jesus Christ is that Light who came into the world. The One who was there on that first day when God spoke and light cut into the darkness was the same One who came to open the eyes of the blind so that they could finally see the light of truth—so that they would see the true state of their hearts and of their desperate need for salvation. He came to shine a light on all the dark places of our hearts, revealing the sin hidden in its deepest recesses, so that we would repent and find forgiveness in Him. He came to bring life to all the dead spaces of our lives—to bring us the fullness of joy found only in the light of His presence: “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).
When the guide on that cave tour turned the lights back on, it was shockingly bright compared to the utter darkness. That’s what Jesus is for us: the brilliant light of life who casts the darkness away. What a marvelous truth. The darkness cannot overcome the light of Christ (John 1:5).
This season, we celebrate the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. The Light of the World has come. Rejoice that Christ has healed your blindness; you no longer live in darkness.