Jun 03

Darkness and light are contrasted frequently in Scripture. There are many reasons for this. The Bible is a book about the most basic issues of existence. Existence is an extremely complex matter--so complex that we cannot hope to understand it unless we can find some way to simplify its tremendous scope and depth.

Jesus told parables, simple stories, to illustrate the profound nature of the deep things of God. The Bible frequently uses the contrast between darkness and light to bring the profound nature of existence down to black and white, something more manageable to our understanding.

God wants us to understand. He wants us to know the truth about reality and himself as the ultimate expression of that reality. When he reveals some truth about himself, then, he wants that truth to be seen plainly, so we can understand.

"I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness" (Isaiah 45:19).

God wants clarity and plainness of speech. The enemy seeks to muddy what God plainly says and so God declares to anyone who twists around his words and makes them harder to understand:

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20).

May our words and actions to a world in darkness always be plain and true.

Scripture for today: Isaiah 5:20, 21
Thought for today: God's Word is the standard for measuring whether something is black or white.
Prayer for today: Lord, keep me from darkening your Word in any way.

JUN 03