Dark

When I was seven years old my family took a vacation to west Texas to visit my uncle, aunt and cousins. They had moved from Mississippi a couple years earlier, so our family went on our longest road trip ever. It was a very long trip for our ’55 Plymouth, but it was exciting for me as I was in the wild west for the very first time. I have always loved Westerns—movies about the wild west. That very summer I recall collecting six RC Cola bottle caps, so I could get free admission into our local movie theater on Saturday afternoon and watch a double feature of Westerns. Now I was going to go out west where all those movies took place. I was a bit disappointed because I did not see many “real” cowboys, and the Indians that I saw were at roadside souvenir stands.

I was more fascinated with the gila monsters and jackrabbits that were featured at tourist traps along the highway.  It was a good thing there was an occasional oasis along that highway as there was not much else very exciting to see in west Texas.

After visiting with the cousins, we all went on a road trip to Carlsbad Caverns. I was fascinated with the stalactites and stalagmites—although I had no idea what those were called at that time! Our tour guide led us deeper and deeper into the cavern, and when we reached a certain point all of a sudden the lights went out. I was scared. It was pitch black.

I didn’t want to be a baby and grab for my mother’s hand because my cousin who was a year older than me would have laughed at me, so I toughed it out. But, I was sooooo afraid. If someone had said, “Boo!” I would have screamed. Our guide said, “Don’t worry. We know where the light switch is.” That did not make me feel better. While the lights were out they played a recording of Rock of Ages and many of the tourists joined in singing.

All of us have been in similar situations where it was so very dark, and some of us will admit that we were actually afraid.

Darkness is something to be feared by many, but it is a friend to those who seek evil. Statistics bear this out, but most of us would realize without knowing the stats that many more crimes are committed during the nighttime than in the daytime. Darkness harbors so much evil in our world today.

While we talk of the despicable things that are done in the dark, we followers of Jesus are guilty of committing sins in the darkness of the moment—when we get mad for something someone says or implies, or when we return spite for spite, or when we have that thought that is not pure and holy before God.

I was playing golf in Florida years ago and my friend and I were placed with two strangers for our foursome. The two guys found out that my friend and I were working for a church, and one of them started cussing after a bad hook. He quickly said he was sorry that he had cussed in front of “holy men.” I said, “That’s OK because you can say anything in front of me that you can say in front of God.” He did not like that comment—granted it was a bit smart aleck. But, he got the message. We don’t do anything in the darkness that God doesn’t know and care about.

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” ESV, Luke 12: 2-3