Light in the Darkness

Sammy (the dog) had his 7 week groom today and when I booked his next one in I was astounded to find I was booking it in for October already. Where has this year gone? Perhaps it’s the weather, but I’m feeling more than ever, that the autumn and soon the winter are coming round very quickly.

One of the things which is contributing to this feeling is the ‘events’ which I’m beginning to see some of my friends are interested in on Facebook. Many of these events have a Halloween based theme, one of them was a ‘Day of the Dead’ similar to the now real event at the start of the latest Bond film. Looking at these events at face value they appear harmless enough. Maybe a big fire, lots of costumes, some fireworks, maybe some music – but I’m uneasy… Whilst All Souls is a valid Christian celebration (topic for another time) it's morphing into Halloween and, perhaps, the celebration of darkness which is attached to it can not be a good thing.

Ephesians says “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Just before this verse we’re told to wear the spiritual armour of God, to protect ourselves and to be a soldier in the battle.

I wonder if in attending events like this ‘we’ are allowing the evil one space to win battles, both in our own lives and in the lives of our communities. I do wonder if we really appreciate the consequence of some of the things we do, or even just the things we sit back and watch our families and our friends do.

I’m not suggesting we all go out and get placards like Father Ted (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT9xuXQjxMM) - but perhaps we need to be more honest with ourselves and with others about the effects these things have.

I have often thought that the devils greatest weapon and his biggest success in the struggles which Ephesians speaks about is our own complacency when it comes to his existence. I wonder if the battles, which do exist, are now things which the majority of the world, and perhaps even some of us have consigned to the story books or to tales of haunted houses.

But this stuff is real, and it deserves our attention – not our focus, but our attention. It doesn’t need our focus, because that belongs to God, but we need to be aware of it – to ask the question, when something goes wrong – what is really happening here? And to not be afraid to pray for and about it.

One of my all time favourite films, since it’s release in the early 90s is the Lion King. There is a scene where Simba goes to the ‘elephant’s graveyard’ despite the fact that his dad tells him not to. He gets cornered by some very nasty looking hyenas and it’s looking like Simba is going to be lunch. Then, from no where, his Dad turns up, this huge lion – and the whole situation changes. If you’ve not seen it, you can watch the scene here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x49NwjnwDUw).

This isn’t a bad (but not perfect) illustration of why we don’t need to be afraid. Without God, we are a bit like Simba, pretty powerless, but with God, we have his power and his might. We are and can be soldiers in the fight; if you don’t believe that this is the case then ask yourself why Ephesians tells you to put on your armour.

Bill Hybals in his book ‘Too Busy not to Pray’ says - It is Critical to remember that, despite the victory God has achieved over Satan in the ministry and resurrection of Christ, not everything is submitted to God yet. The enemy is still very active. His time is short, and the end is sure, but in the mean time he remains a prince of this world, opposing the ways of God at every turn. 

He may cause suffering and pain, he may seem, especially when we look at the news, to have the upper hand, but God WILL have the final say. He WILL assert his universal sovereignty in salvation. As Revelation promises “God will wipe every tear from their eyes, there will be no more death, no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

God brings his light even into the darkest of situations, as Psalm 139 reminds us, even darkness is as light to Him. We don’t need to be afraid, we just need to be people who walk in that light.

A vicar friend of mine tells me that he once chatted with a Christian who had previously been some form of pagan priestly figure based in Glastonbury. He said that when he was a pagan he could see things within the spiritual realms. Whenever he met a Christian they would have a light within them but 99 times out of a 100 they walked around, in the spiritual realms, hunched over the light, as if the world was weighing them down.

Every so often they would walk past someone who’s light shone brightly, and they stood upright. It was those people they learned to cross the road to avoid.

I don’t know this person directly, and can’t affirm the stories validity, but I do trust the friend who told me to believe his account of it to be true.

Regardless, of what you think of it, it’s perhaps at the very least another good picture. I want to be someone who’s light shines brightly, who walks upright, not afraid, because – like Simba – I have my father, the greatest Lion of all, behind me, protecting me.

As I've written this, the song 'Great are you Lord' by 'All Sons and Daughters' has been buzzing round my head. I hope it might be helpful for someone. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHz0w-HG4iU)