God asked Job a question. Where is the way where light dwelleth? If ever a man dwelled in darkness, it was Job. There are many ways to be in darkness—depression, hopelessness, sins. There are many types of darkness. It smothers. It is cold. You’re scared. You feel you can’t trust anything or anyone in the dark.
Job 38: 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
I remember playing outside in the summer when I was growing up. The days were longer and we stayed out longer. That was fine by me. Back then there weren’t perverts out and about. People didn’t even lock their doors. Mom and dad told us when it started to get dark that we needed to head on into the house. Dad and mom made the difference. The lights were on in the house.
God makes the difference. His light is on in the house. Sometimes we get where we shouldn’t be, away from the light. We can fall into the darkness of sins, the darkness of mental and emotional suffering, the darkness of bad finances or worry and lose faith. Then hope is lost. Job had one darkness after the other. He was following God. He was upright. The devil thought he could change him. He worked on Job, and he’ll work on us. He torments. He accuses. Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. Listen. We are not better off without God. No matter how rough it is, keep believing, keep trusting. God will light the way to the house. No matter how cloudy the day or how the devil, the world or society pressures, don’t give in.
Look at things with a single eye. Be single minded. Keep your eye on Jesus, not on what it shouldn’t be. It’s like shutting one eye to block out the rest so you can focus. That’s what we need to do so we can focus on God. If our eyes are drifting, it’s time to close one and focus. If we’re losing heart in serving God, if we’ve lost our will, it’s time to stop and focus. If our will breaks, our spirit will break. If we immerse ourselves in dark things long enough, soon our entire world will be darkened.
As day ends you can almost see the darkness reaching for you. If you’re in the woods you want to get away from the things that come out at night. If you stay too long in the woods with your minds, if you hesitate, the darkness will gather in and squeeze out the light leaving your world dark. The heart and soul can be illuminated. The only lifter of darkness is the Son of Righteousness.
In John 8:12 Jesus said I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. That means everything in the dark can come to light. Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Peter, and John all experienced darkness. You’ve been there. Remember Jesus is the light. No matter how upside down it seems someone is there. If you just use your good sense, you’d realize you shouldn’t listen to the devil. Listen to Jesus. Look through the darkness. There’s a light in the window. The light of life is ours when we turn our lives over to God. Let him be Lord. He takes the darkness away.
If mom and dad had turned off the light, we would have ended up in the river. Over there when darkness came it was pitch black dark. Look for the bright side. The more we give to the Lord, the brighter it gets. When darkness tries to override, I’m glad there is a light on in the house.
Thomas said to Jesus Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus responded by saying I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. With Jesus we’ll find the way. He’s lighting the way. The door is open and the light is on in the house. Come on in.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 