“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
”
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
”
Darkness is death, but not death to him that comes out of it. It may sound paradoxical, but no man is condemned for anything he has done; he is condemned for continuing to do wrong. He is condemned for not coming out of the darkness, for not coming to the light, the living God, who sent the light, his son, into the world to guide him home. Let us hear what John says about the darkness. For here we have also the word of the apostle himself: at the 13th verse he begins, I think, to speak in his own person. In the 19th verse he says, “And this is the condemnation,”—not that men are sinners—not that they have done that which, even at the moment, they were ashamed of—not that they have committed murder, not that they have betrayed man or woman,—not for any hideous thing are they condemned, but that they will not leave such doings behind, and do them no more: “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men” would not come out of the darkness to the light, but “loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” Clinging to evil, therefore turning their backs on the inbreaking light, how can they but be condemned! Whatever of honesty is in man, whatever of judgment is left in the world, must allow that their condemnation is in the very nature of things, that it must rest on them and abide.
Commentary
by Dale Darling
Darkness is death, but not death to him that comes out of it.
This statement must, at some point for most of humanity, have enduring promise and hope. Where there is life there is hope, and where there is Life there is Light.
Insidious guilt is sown, grows and weighs people down. What a burden. It comes from deceit and empty philosophy, propagated through the ages: phony profundity, and trusting in it. Here is darkness; here is death. People love darkness because their deeds are evil. One such deed is believing the lies we hear in our head, lies that lead to a culture of victimhood and insidious
guilt. It is dark here.
COME OUT!
In the light of Who we know, Who knows us, how shall we then live?
In light.
Be not afraid to build upon the rock of Christ. Go forth.
Love thy neighbor.