The absence of light ∙∙

The absence of light ∙∙

I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life. – John 8:12

John 1:4-12

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

What is Darkness?

Darkness has long captured human imagination, sparking curiosity and debate. Is it a tangible force, or is it simply the absence of light? An often-told anecdote presents an intriguing perspective, helping us see darkness not just physically but spiritually as well.

A Tale of Darkness and Light

A well-known story features a university professor who challenged his students with thought-provoking and often non-sequiturs. This time, however, a student posed a question that turned the tables.

“Does darkness exist?” the student asked.

The professor promptly replied, “Of course it does!”

The student then countered, “You are wrong, sir. Darkness does not exist. Darkness, in reality, is the absence of light. Light can be studied, but darkness cannot. We can use Newton’s prism to split white light into a spectrum of colors and measure the wavelengths of each. But darkness has no measurable properties of its own. It is merely a term to describe what happens when there is no light present.”

The internet often attributes this clever rebuttal to a young Albert Einstein, though the validity of the story remains questionable. Whether true or not, the anecdote beautifully illustrates the idea that darkness is not a substantial entity but rather the absence of something vital and vibrant: light.

Experiencing True Darkness

Most of us have never experienced complete darkness, especially those living near cities where artificial lights fill the sky. Even rural dwellers may require a cloudy, moonless night or a trip into a deep cave to encounter total darkness. Absolute darkness is a profound experience because it reminds us of how dependent we are on light.

However, the concept of darkness extends beyond the physical world. The Scriptures, for instance, draw a parallel between physical and spiritual darkness.

Spiritual Darkness and Blindness

Just as physical darkness is the absence of light, spiritual darkness results from the inability to see the truth. It originates from ignorance and a lack of understanding of the truth that God has revealed to the world. The frightening part of spiritual darkness is how easily we adapt to it. We grow accustomed to the lack of light until we no longer recognize we are in darkness.

The Lord Jesus Christ speaks of this in Matthew 6:23: “If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

The verse uses the metaphor of the eye as a window. A clean, clear window lets light fill a room, but a dirty or distorted window dims or blocks the light. Similarly, the spiritual “eye” determines how much light enters the soul. If our vision is obscured, we cannot see the truth. This spiritual blindness leaves us unable to recognize how truly dark our condition is. Hughes observes, “Of course, Jesus is not giving us a lesson on optics. He is saying that the light that comes into a man’s soul depends on the spiritual condition of the eye through which it has to pass because the eye is the window of the body.”

Richison suggests that seeing through a distorted lens is worse than being blind because it creates the illusion of understanding.

REFLECT & PRAY

I was unaware that I was living in darkness until I was shown the light. The lies I believed to be true were only revealed when I encountered the real truth. I didn’t comprehend my lost state until I was found.

Father, thank You for freeing me from spiritual blindness and darkness and allowing me to see the light. Encourage me to always come to the light and not shrink back into darkness.

INSIGHT

Why People Avoid the Light

Why do many cling to spiritual darkness? John 3:19-20 provides insight: “Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into it, for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”

The Fear of Exposure

The Greek text uses two terms for “evil.” Poneros describes “malevolent, corrupt, or wicked actions.” Poneros is characterized by things which are “worthless, vicious, corrupt, or even hideous.” The second term, Phaulos, denotes deeds that are “mediocre, insignificant, subpar, inferior, or pitiful.”

People avoid the light because it reveals their true nature. The thought of exposure is unsettling, even humiliating. Being exposed as wicked or corrupt is shameful. But being unmasked as ordinary, inadequate, or mediocre can be even more humiliating. For this reason, people often go to great lengths to avoid the penetrating truth of light. This fear drives many to shun the light, preferring the false security of darkness. As Carl Jung observed, “People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own souls.”

The Light shines

Yet, hope pierces the darkness. Isaiah 9:2 promises, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.” Jesus, the Light of the World, brings salvation, not condemnation. His light exposes lies, liberates us from spiritual blindness, and guides us to abundant life.

alled to Shine

Understanding why people avoid the light underscores the urgency of sharing Christ’s truth. Many resist because the light challenges their sins, disrupts their comfort, or upends their worldview. As children of the King, we are called to walk in the light and reflect it to others, offering hope and inviting them into the transformative grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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© Dr. H 2025