I don’t know how you measure the darkness of the world. Here are three indicators of worldwide darkness:
- It is estimated that there have been 2 million war and war-related casualties from 2020 to the present.
- The International Labour Organization and its partners estimate that roughly 50 million people are in modern slavery globally (including forced labor and forced marriage), with thousands of new victims detected annually.
- It is estimated that 281.6 million people were in “Crisis or worse” acute food insecurity across 59 countries or territories. Within that number, approximately 36.4 million were in “Emergency or worse” — often interpreted as on the brink of starvation without urgent assistance.
Each of these numbers represents a person who is experiencing the darkness of a world that works against them. The world’s darkness presents a major obstacle to followers of Jesus who are called to shine our light in the world.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Isaiah’s message is one of hope to a world inundated with the kind of darkness that is all around us.
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth
and thick darkness the peoples,
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3)
One of my friends was a very courageous missionary in an extremely dark place. The nation where she served was lawless, with massive hunger and corruption vying for which one would exceed the other in trouble for the citizens.
She was faced with a combination of fierce opposition and appreciation. For example, the government trusted her with aid distribution because they knew she was honest. A leading Muslim cleric requested her presence and prayers as he lay dying in a hospital bed.
She was opposed by neighboring witches who regularly stood in front of her house hurling curses at her. On more than one occasion, armed men attempted to climb the wall to her property.
During the many years she served in this African nation, she was a light in the darkness. Isaiah explains how God’s light works through us.
The glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
The Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. (Verses 1 and 2).
Our light is nothing more than the reflection of God’s presence in our lives. Just as the moon reflects the sun’s light, we will bring light to the darkness when we are living in harmony with God and His purposes.
Jesus described the process with a different image, but one that carries the thought just the same.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples” (John 15:5 and 8).
My missionary friend is someone with a vibrant relationship with Jesus. Just as a branch of a grapevine produces fruit when it is connected to and nourished by the vine, so she produces fruit wherever she goes.
Using the “light” analogy, whether in Africa or America, she shines the light because she is in a life-giving relationship with Jesus, the Light of the world.
Coming to the Light
The Muslim cleric who asked for my friend to pray for him had a line of devoted followers standing outside the hospital. When she arrived, she was ushered to his bedside ahead of the many who were waiting outside.
When you abide in Christ and shine the light, some will recognize God’s work in your life and welcome you. Isaiah put it like this:
Nations shall come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:3)
Even though he was of a different faith, the cleric recognized the light of the Lord and welcomed my friend’s prayer and presence.
This amazing Christian lady did not dispel all the darkness in the country where she served. In fact, the nation seems to be in more darkness now than when she served there.
What good did she do? She brought the light of God’s love to individuals and villages for many years. Only God can measure the value of her life’s work.
When I look at the three illustrations of darkness that I opened this article with, I don’t think we can dispel the darkness of war, human trafficking, and hunger.
However, we all can count on this: As we live in an abiding relationship with Jesus, He will shine His light through us. Wherever we go, this light will shine.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 