A Cover of Darkness

For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”-John 3:16-21

Have you ever done something in secret that you know that once it was exposed to the light, people would look at you different? It could be something as little as biting your nails, but whatever it is, you don't want people to know about it. This happened to a guy in the new testament. A Pharisee, named Nicodemus, came to Jesus under the cloak of darkness. As a Pharisee, it wasn't very commonplace for them to go against their beliefs and listen to a man claiming to be the Son of God. So, under nighttime's cover Nicodemus sneaks away to see him. It is here that we get the most quoted and most well known verse in scripture, John 3:16. But that isn't what I want to talk about. I what to discuss the verses that follow. The ones talking about doing evil deeds in the darkness. Why do you think it is most common for a criminal to break into a bank at night, rather than midday? Because not as many people will see him, and he is more likely to get away with it without out any consequences. But eventually, the criminal slips up, and attacks somewhere when the sun is shining bright and his true character is revealed. When the wicked do what they ought not to do, they are already condemned, even if they haven't been caught yet. 

Aren't you glad there is a loving God who doesn't judge us when we come to him at night to hid what we are doing. Instead he receives us with open arms and tells us how to be saved. "Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”- John 3:5-8. God sent his light to reveal our darkness. The things hidden down deep into our souls that we have forgotten about. It is our job to come to God and lay those things down at his feet, and leave behind the darkness. God has made it so easy for us to come to him. We just need to be willing for people to see what wear are hiding under. 

I'm doing what I can to come fully into God's light this year. Will you join me?

Adam Semple- A young Man On A Mission From God


*photo credit- trekearth.com