Piercing the Dark

 When Taylor and Tanner were little, before Tucker and Turner were born, Brenda and I took them on vacation. Taylor was around 5 and Tanner around 3. We went to a tourist cave destination. I still remember descending the steps down into the depths of that cavern. They had lights to illuminate our way down into the bellows of the earth. 

When we reached the bottom the tour guide shared facts about the cave. I cannot remember any of them. Tanner got tired and wanted me to carry him. He was tuckered out from all those steps.  If you know how big Tanner is now you can imagine he was a sizable three year old. The largest of our four sons. While the guide kept talking my muscles kept burning. 

I do remember one thing. The guide talked about the darkness in the cave. So dark she said you are not able to see your hand right in front of your face. They turned the lights out. I held my free hand up and sure enough I could not see anything. Pitch black. Outer darkness. 

There is something about the dark that makes us unsettled. Ever walked through a dark building at night without light. You are unsure about your next steps. You grope your way along. Every noise makes you feel creepy. You accidentally stumble into furniture and walls you did not see. 

This world is a dark place. Sin abounds. Evil is everywhere. In all of this gulf of darkness Jesus calls us to be lights in this world. [Matt 5:14-16]. We are called to shine. One thing we know. Light and darkness cannot coexist. Darkness is the absence of light. Let the smallest light shine and it will pierce the darkest place. 

That is what God calls us to do. To shine in the darkest places. David Livingstone did that in Africa. He shone the light of Jesus in areas no white man had ever traversed. He braved savages, lions, jungles, malaria, and a host of other dangers. Livingstone shone in the darkness as he created maps for those who would follow with the gospel after him. He opened up Africa in ways that had not been done before. 

The most famous story about Livingstone is they found him dead in his tent. The natives carefully cut out his heart and buried it in Africa before shipping his body back home to his wife. They knew he loved Africa and wanted part of him buried there as a result. What a testimony. 

We are called to shine in dark places. When you shine alone it may not be much light. If enough followers of Jesus shine in the same place it can transform communities and countries. May we shine through good works so that our Father is glorified and others are drawn to Him. No matter how dark the place is. No matter how remote and removed from God's influence. Our light can pierce the darkness.