Overcoming Darkness 

   “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8: 12) 

   I enjoy being out early in the morning, just before dawn.  The night still rules, darkness is everywhere.  Slowly, but surely the sun begins to rise, overcoming the darkness.  In the space of a few minutes the darkness has gone, and the new day has begun.  The darkness has been banished for another day.

   The same occurs in our hearts and souls when we recognize Jesus within us and look to the true Son, the Son of God.  As we turn more and more to Him, the darkness within us begins to lessen.  It may sometimes take weeks, months, or even years, but if we focus more and more on the light of Christ we can banish the darkness within us.

   Especially in a world that seems more and more to live in darkness, it is vital that we look to the light and expel the darkness of the world that Satan tries to bring to us.  There is no way we can change the world, but we can change ourselves.  If enough people turn to God and live as the people of God, the world will change, but it takes courage and perseverance.

   Try as they may, they cannot extinguish the light of Christ.  They can try to hide it, force it from public view, but they can’t overcome the light.  If we allow the light of Christ to shine within us, they cannot stop that light from shining in the world.