Our background photo today shows a journey through the pitch-black darkness of a lava tube, deep underground.
This world we are living in is a very dark place. Just like the pitch-black darkness of the lava tube deep underground!
Dark because of bad, evil things which are done!
Bad, evil things which are done to us.
Bad, evil things which we ourselves have done.
Dark because of lies and hate!
Lies and hate we have felt & experienced from the biting malicious tongues of others.
Lies and hate we ourselves have spoken with our own tongues.
Dark because of suffering and pain!
Dark worries and fears gnaw at us from deep within our minds and hearts!
So much darkness!
But God, in His great goodness has shined light into the darkness!
Just like the light is shining brilliantly in the darkness of the lava-tube.
Jesus is the light!
Jesus Christ (who is God himself!) left Heaven and came to earth in order to solve the problem of darkness … brokenness … sin … evil … suffering, etc. … in our world.
All of the darkness … the brokenness … the sin … the evil … the bad things … the pain … the suffering … etc. … all of it … Jesus died on the cross for all of it!
Jesus died in our place … for our sin! Jesus paid the penalty for everything we have ever done wrong! Jesus paid the penalty for everything bad thing which has been done to us by others. Jesus took it all on himself!
Jesus paid the penalty of justice for all of it!
Why??
Why would Jesus pay the penalty for everyone’s evil and darkness??
Because He loves us that much!
And not only that … Jesus is greater & stronger than all that darkness!
Jesus is greater & stronger than all that pain and brokenness!
Jesus is stronger than death!
Jesus is stronger than sin!
Jesus is stronger than the grave!
Jesus conquered death! … and he rose from the grave!
And in so doing, Jesus completely conquered all evil and sin! Jesus defeated and overcame all darkness!
All of the evil and darkness in our world … Jesus has overcome all of it!
That brokenness in your soul … Jesus offers you redemption!
That darkness in your mind … Jesus offers you light! And salvation!
In the place of all the evil and bad … Jesus offers you goodness!
Just call out to Jesus and ask Jesus to take away all your sin … ask Jesus to take away all the evil and bad … ask Jesus to take away all the darkness.
Jesus will take it all away for you!
Jesus will make you clean and new!
And not only that … Jesus will give you the Holy Spirit to indwell and infill you! The Holy Spirit will fill you with the goodness of God! The Holy Spirit will fill you with the light of God!
The pitch-black darkness of the lava tube, in our background photo today, is being brilliantly illuminated!
The darkness has no power over the light! The light is stronger than the darkness!
So also, the darkness of evil has no power over the light of Jesus! The light of Jesus Christ is stronger than any darkness!
This right here is what our life looks like when the Holy Spirit fills us with goodness and with light!
“Let your light [aka: the light of Jesus in you!] shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
