Out of Darkness

Last night at the dinner table, my family got into a lengthy discussion about darkness.  It began with a question from one of my daughters on whether there could be extraterrestrial life beyond earth. We were all ears as the discussion moved from the vastness of our universe to galaxies beyond our own and then back again.

Between my husband and son, our universe was explained in mathematical terms.  I learned that scientists have determined the weight of our solar system but that it doesn't measure up.  It should be much heavier than it actually is.  Something is missing.  One theory is that darkness has mass.  Though we do not yet understand it, some scientists now believe that darkness is not simply empty space, but is an object containing some sort of energy or weight. 

Not only do we use the word dark to describe the pitch black of night, but it is also used to describe evil in our world.  We say a movie or book is dark when it has foreboding characters or a frightening plot.  And we know that darkness provides a covering for wrong doing.  In fact we love darkness because our deeds are evil.  (John 3:19)

This brings more meaning to the fact that Jesus came into the world to overcome the darkness.  Wherever light is, darkness must flee.  Last night, on the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, I was comforted by 1 Pet. 2:9 which says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."   I'm so glad for the belonging, that it is God who owns us.  He has called us out of darkness.  Yet the fact that He has to call us from it seems almost like we'd rather stay there, cloaked in darkness, that we might continue our evil deeds.  The light is wonderful, yet we do not always choose it.

I'm so very thankful for Jesus, the Light of the world, who takes away our sin.  The Light, who dispels darkness.  I'm frightened when I think of darkness holding mass, of being a thing and not simply empty space.  It gives me even more reason to press close to the Light, always near the Light, for it is a safe place, a place of conquering, where I can freely declare God's praises.  Glory to God in the highest!

Dinner was long gone and we were still sitting at the table.  Our conclusion?   The underlying purpose for our huge universe and mind blowing galaxies beyond is to demonstrate how very big our God is.  Truly, all creation shouts "Glory!" 

And all this . . . contained in a feeding trough.  He "made Himself nothing...being made in human likeness" that we might be delivered from darkness.  (Phil. 2:6-8)