I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” John 12.44
I pray you will not think me frivolous and superficial to suggest that this verse reminds me of a sweet season in my family life.
As I brushed my teeth one morning, I heard something odd. Not really odd; maybe I should say oddly placed. It was a familiar and even much-loved sound. But, well, it was coming from a quite unexpected place – the bathroom linen closet. The closet door was fully closed but … there it was again. Giggling. Little boy giggling. The kind that makes you giggle too when you don’t even know what is so funny. I wondered aloud where Benjamin might be and then carefully opened the door and there I discovered my 3-year-old dissolving in giggles as he stood in our rather small linen closet. “I surprised you, Mommy!” So true.
Thus began a several months season of Benjamin routinely closing himself inside the bathroom closet and surprising Mommy. The true surprise for my husband and me was that our son who did not like the dark was having so much fun hiding in the closet, the unlit closet. Nightlights and lamps and an abundance of flashlights were all required necessities of life with Ben until that first giggling-in-the-closet day. When we asked our son about why it was okay for him in the dark closet, he shrugged his shoulders and answered simply, “I know it not dark anymore.” No further explanation offered by the boy or sought by his parents. We were relieved and grateful.
I love the passages in the Bible that remind us that Jesus is the light that came into the world to give us relief and even new life when we choose His light rather than the world’s darkness.
The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. Matthew 4.16
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1.4
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1.5
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. John 1.9
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8.12
“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” John 12.44
When we fully trust that Jesus is the light of the world and when we abide in Him, we can claim an assurance that whatever darkness has been in our life is relieved with trusting Jesus. With child-like faith, each one who believes can exclaim, “I know it not dark anymore!”
So thankful for little boy giggles but so much more for the Light of Jesus! Blessings, Colleen