Children tend to say exactly what they are feeling.  Sometimes this means they say something in public that embarrasses you.  Sometimes it is a little too personal.  But I find it to almost always be genuine, especially when it comes to their fears.  It is often in those moments that there is an opportunity to draw out a spiritual lesson.  And more often than not, it is an exercise in my own spiritual life.  Over the next couple of weeks, I plan to examine some of the things my children say to highlight a spiritual reality…
 
“Daddy, don’t turn out the lights!”  Or, “At least leave the hall light on, I want to see what is in the room.”  As if to say, please don’t leave me to my own imagination of what that shadow might be or what might be lurking under my bed.  It is our nightly routine to stop by their room on our way to bed and cut out the lamp or the glow light that they turned on after we left them.  I feel their concern.  I don’t like the darkness.  I don’t like not seeing what is around me.  Darkness is a powerful presence.  And so, it is no wonder that Scripture often uses it to describe the world apart from God.  It is human to not like the darkness.  When the light goes off in my children’s room, the room is overcome by darkness.  I encourage my children that we are just around the corner, that there isn’t a boogy-man in the closet, and there is no abyss under their bed, but just in case, there is always a night light, which comforts them more than my words.
 
I especially think of one child, and I take her up in my arms and say, “Dear daughter, don’t you know that God tells us His children will never be in darkness?” Isn’t this what God says to His own children?  John opens his gospel with this message from God, speaking to us who are in darkness, “In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  Jesus stepped into the darkness of this sinful world to bring light.  Be sure, the darkness of this world is a thing to fear.  But God says to us who were in darkness, “My dear child, don’t you know, with Me there is no darkness.”  Darkness is often equated with spiritual blindness in the Bible, and Jesus came to open the eyes of His people that they may see the light of their salvation.  As Peter says, “Proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  
 
Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  I don’t know where you are in reality to all the darkness that surrounds us. I don’t know if you feel you are even now in that dark hour of life.  But I do know this: Christ has overcome the darkness and we are to walk in light of His tender mercy to draw us out of darkness to Himself.  He has come to deliver us from the domain of darkness.  Sisters and brothers, that light will never be turned off.  He is always near!  Daddy, don’t turn off the lights.  He never shall, for His son is the light of life.  
 
Verses for consideration:  Matthew 4:16, Psalm 119:105, James 1:17, John 1:15, John 8:12, John 12:35-37, 1 Peter 2:9.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Nathan