The Light That Darkness Cannot Overcome (Part 1)

Darkness is associated with something unpleasant or dangerous. Darkness symbolises evil, sin, ignorance, adversity, despair, gloom and doom.

It appears even God is not comfortable with darkness. When God created the earth, the earth was covered with darkness. The Spirit of God was hovering in darkness. And God said "Let there be light." And there was light. And God saw that it was very good and God separated light from darkness (Gen 1:1-4).

God created Adam and Eve and  allowed them to enjoy the brilliance of divine light. But Adam and Eve sinned. They step outside the frame of light and entered the region of darkness (Gen 3:1-19). Moral darkness covered the earth. Evil multiplied, sin increased, and darkness also deepened. "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness" (Prov 4:19). The whole humanity was groping in darkness, evil, injustice and wickedness.

But the Lord who is rich in mercy would not abandon humanity (Eph 2:4). The Lord sent prophet Isaiah to announce the new era of great light, the triumph of light over darkness. The prophet proclaimed: the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined (Is 9:2).

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus entered the human history. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men and women. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" ( Jn 1:4-5). Jesus himself would later say: "I am the light of the world" (Jn 8:12).

Enemies As Footstool

The Lord's revelation to my Lord: "sit at my  right hand, until I make your foes your footstool" (Ps 110:1).  This verse primarily refers to Jesus, the conqueror of evil and satan, who is now seated at the right hand of God (Lk 22:69).

This verse also explores our approach to our 'enemies'. Life is complicated. We make enemies. We also become enemies to others. We may hate others and become hateful ourselves.

Christ is inviting us to leave the valley of hatred and hostilities. Christ is inviting us to come and sit at his right hand (Col 3:1). The right hand of Christ is a place of extreme honour and grace.

But to sit at the right hand of Christ, we need to be pure and purified, we need to be clean and cleansed. In other words, we need conversion, purification, self denial and sacrifices. Who can climb the mountain of the Lord? (Ps 15:1-5).

If we dare to cleanse ourselves and sit at the right hand of Christ. We experience two things. First. We feel safe. Our safety is absolutely guaranteed. Not a single hair on our heads can be touched in the presence of Jesus (Lk 21:18). The Lord will prepare  a banquet for us in the sight of our enemies (Ps 23:5).

Second, our perspective of our enemies will change. The enemy who appears so big will now look so small. We realise that an enemy is not to be feared but pitied. Sitting next to Christ and looking down, we see our enemies at our footstool. Rather, our enemies become our footstool.

The footstool is not a comfortable place for the enemies. It is a place of pain and suffering, shame and disgrace. That's why Jesus asks to pray for our enemies (Matt 5:44). So that our enemies may leave the footstool one day and join us at the right hand of Christ!