The apostle John walked and talked with Jesus, the one who said he was the very light of the world (John 8:12). 

In 1 John 1:5 he shared this insight of clarity and power: “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” As his people we are to “walk in the light, as he is in the light…” (verse 7)

Today I invite us to ponder the idea that you can’t illuminate darkness with darkness. It’s not possible physically, and it’s not possible spiritually. Let me explain.

If you walk into a dark room and you don’t turn on a light, it doesn’t get any brighter. If you put two dark rooms together, that doesn’t make it lighter. 

In the same way, if we live in darkness, spiritually speaking, not only are we not following Christ, but we’re not helping the world we are called to bless. 

If the world is angry, you being angry doesn’t change anything; it doesn’t help or bless. If the world is sinful, you being sinful doesn’t change anything; it doesn’t help or bless. If the world is deceptive, you being deceptive doesn’t change anything; it doesn’t help or bless. 

But if the world is angry, you sharing the light of Christ does in fact help and bless, because it’s not more of the same—it’s a light switch. 

If the world is sinful, you being faithful does in fact help and bless, because it’s not more of the same—it’s a light switch. 

If the world is deceptive, you being truthful does in fact help and bless, because it’s not more of the same—it’s a light switch. 

Let’s follow Christ—the real Christ—who comes from his Father full of both grace and truth (John 1:14). 

You can’t illuminate darkness with darkness.

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Notes:

-New Podcast and Blog: “13 Things to Pray for Your Pastor.” Click here, or find ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, etc.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.