We live in a world of artificial light in so many ways. If we go to a ballgame and nighttime is approaching, stadium lights come on and we are led to believe that daytime still exists. In essence, we are deceived about the night because of the “artificial light.”
Henry BlackabyWe may function well with artificial light in the physical world, but this certainly is not true in the kingdom of God. Jesus said to His disciples, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5).
We tend to believe that we can ignore the real “night that is coming” by turning on our artificial lights to make us think and act as if nothing is wrong. We can spend time in the “artificial light” of Hollywood with its make-believe world of reality. The world of sports offers a constant stream of escapism. We have hundreds of media channels in which to get lost. And in so doing, we can live carelessly in our unreal world and ignore the real world. This also can apply to our marriages and family relationships. We can fail to see “the night is coming on,” and it may become too late to work on these precious relationships.
Too many of us today see the darkness approaching in our nation and in our world, but convince ourselves it’s not as bad as it truly is. We simply throw on the switch of artificial light so we will not be overtaken by the darkness. And as we do, we go on in reckless and fatal abandon.
Jesus gave clear warning of this moment. We must face the real time in which we live just as He did, and work the works of Him who sent us. Are there “good works” which He ordained that we should work and not postpone (Eph. 2:10)?
Be encouraged: “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:36a). Look carefully around you for opportunities to let Christ’s light shine in you and through you.