Verse of the day is from John 1:5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. Another version says, and the darkness could not overcome it.
What’s interesting is I’ve heard the argument that darkness is not real; darkness is an absence of light. Light is real, but darkness is nothing. It’s just an absence of light. It’s an interesting concept. That same argument was made with other examples and could be used with color, but I think it goes deeper than that. We live in a time of increasing competition and greed where rules and good behavior are ignored, and it can be termed evil. But what is evil? Evil is an absence of good.
When the United States was formed, it was formed with God. Nearly all of the early settlers and leaders that emerged from the American colonies were Christian and most very devout. America was blessed for many years, but decay and free will had their way. The year I was born, I read, is the year prayer was taken out of schools. Eventually the Bible would be taken out and, over time, replaced with other forms of religion because of a claim of separation of church and state, which was misrepresented from what was actually written, and a false understanding was inserted. It’s not okay to have a Christian Bible, but it is okay to have a Muslim Bible or a Buddhist book or anything else. Arguments are made, but the reality is spiritual.
The Bible tells us that it is alive and the words are powerful, and I believe it’s because the Spirit of God is deep within the Word. So anything else is a substitute; it’s dead, lifeless, and misleading. Yet ultimately, in the spiritual realm, it is the answer. Take away what nourishes and you can win over time. Over time America has become less God-aware, less God-seeking. In fact, there is a great movement against God and the Bible. Why would there have to be an argument against it? Whatever happened to people agreeing? One says, “I don’t believe in the Bible, but it’s okay that you do.” The other says, “I believe in the Bible. You should believe in it too,” but doesn’t push. Instead, it’s, “I don’t believe in the Bible and you need to stop.” You’re dangerous. You’re radical. You’re out of control. When the Bible teaches none of that.
But darkness is an absence of light. Darkness cannot overcome light, just as evil cannot overcome good. Evil is simply a lack of good. God’s light, God’s goodness will always overcome evil. And in our own lives, Jesus is the light that shines into the darkness and within our own lives. It’s Jesus that directs our paths if we go with Him. He is the light that illuminates the way of life for us. John 1:5 also tells us that the light of Jesus cannot be overcome by anything. There is no spiritual power or cultural events that can overcome the light of Jesus. In an ever-increasing, darkness-filled world, that is what we have to hold on to.