Stumble in Darkness or Walk in the Light

John 8:12

Jesus' teaching in this scripture reveals that He is the "light of the world", and that whoever follows Him, will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Jesus didn't want people to stay in the dark. Following Him would bring them into the light. He wanted the people to know the full life He came to bring them. (see John 10:10) A life lived in the light.

Have you ever tried to walk in the dark in an unfamiliar setting? It's fine as long as you're in a big, open space. Add some obstacles though, and soon you are stumbling and falling.

Life is that unfamiliar setting. None of us know what obstacles lie waiting in the future. We may have long periods of good health, prosperity and strife-free relationships - the dark doesn't seem so bad then. But when obstacles come out of nowhere - bad news at the doctor's office, the boss tells you the company is downsizing and doesn't need you, your spouse leaves - you find yourself stumbling, or worse falling into fear and depression as the dark closes in.

Following Christ doesn't keep the obstacles I've mentioned out of our lives. What does happen, though, is that His light puts them into perspective. Darkness can paralyze us with fear, the obstacles assume overwhelming proportions. Christ's light reveals them for what they are, situations we can get through by walking with Him in His light. Trying to get through life's obstacles on our own will only keep us stumbling in the dark!

Think about these verses:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

We don't have to stay in the dark.

We can choose to follow Christ - the light of the world, the light of our life!