Growing up, there was a show that came on Nickelodeon by the name “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”. The show was a spooky one—and one that I never, ever wanted to watch. Even then (and yes, still), I was afraid of anything of the scary and spooky variety. And that show, well, it’s premise was to get under your skin, so no thank you. Legends of the Hidden Temple? Yes please!
Still, it’s an interesting question. Am I afraid of the dark? As a grown up, I’d like to say no. But if I’m being honest, I absolutely am. I don’t like coming home by myself to a dark house. I don’t like to hear noises when I’m tucked into bed for the night. I don’t like to be out alone at night in places where strangers could approach me. You may be thinking, well no one likes those things. Ok, but those things don’t necessarily bother me in the day time, so I’d say that yes, I’m afraid of the dark.
The question I’d like to pose today, though, is this: are you living like you’re afraid of THE dark? You see, Jesus calls hell the place of “outer darkness” (Matt. 25:30) and Jude says it is “blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 13). As someone who doesn’t like the dark here, on earth, I can assure you that I most definitely would not like a place that is only blackness of darkness forever. It sounds terrifying.
Mostly, though, it seems terrifying because of verses like 1 John 1:5, which tell me that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all–meaning that if I end up in a place that is darkness forever, I am forever without God, the true protector and shield.
The good news is that I don’t have to go there–and neither do you! This dark and terrifying place was made for satan and his angels, not for us (Matt. 25:41). The good news is that there is a place prepared for us that has no night at all (John 14:2-3, Rev. 22:5). The good news is that Jesus died to save us from the sins that would condemn us to an everlasting fire! We don’t have to be afraid of the dark—we don’t have to go there at all!!
But here’s the thing: we can’t expect to live eternally in the light (in the presence of God) when we’ve spent an entire lifetime walking in darkness. Jesus has told us explicitly through His own words and the words of his apostles that we are to be lights in this world (Matt. 5:16, Phil. 2:15). We are to use the time we have been given on this earth to show others that there is hope–that they do not have to endure this darkness forever. They can escape it–both here and in the world to come. We are the only way that the world can know–if we shine our lights to them.
But we don’t shine our lights while walking in darkness. We don’t shine our lights by living in immorality, drunkenness, idolatry or ungodliness. We don’t shine our lights by blending in with the world and its Godless ways. We don’t shine our lights by accepting practices which God hates or hating people who God loves. We shine our lights by being different—by being Jesus (Gal. 2:20).
Romans 2:6 tells us that we will be judged, each of us individually, by the deeds we have done on this earth. Whether we have lived our lives as fruit-bearing servants of Light, or wicked and unprofitable servants of darkness. In the end, though, we can’t blame God if we go to hell. We can’t shout and scream and yell at God as we go through this life, saying a loving God wouldn’t send anyone to hell. That’s not what Romans teaches us. Romans teaches us that we send ourselves to hell, by choosing the darkness while we’re still alive.
Mark 9:43-44 tells us that we are to do whatever it takes–even the most drastic of things–to ensure we don’t go to the place of everlasting darkness and fire and torment. I’m here to tell you today that you don’t have to be afraid of the dark, and you most certainly don’t have to end up there eternally. The gospel is a message of hope and light and joy. It is a message that tells us that even though we deserve punishment, we receive pardon. We receive life. We receive God, forever.
As Joshua urged the Israelites, so I urge you. Choose today who you will serve. The god of this world, who will lead you to an eternity with him in the outer darkness, or the only true and living God, who has prepared a place for you in a place that has no night. Whatever your choice is—walk therein. If you want to go to heaven, walk in the light. If you want to go to hell, walk in the darkness.
Choose light. Today and everyday, choose light.
