This spring and summer there have been times we have walked in the mornings and times in the evenings. Within our neighborhood some houses have lights on at night, but there are areas of the road we walk that remain in the shadows because of the trees.

At the end of the cul-de-sac we pass into the shady areas and over time we have realized that we need to shine a flashlight on our path so that we don’t step on the frogs! There are different sized ones, but I don’t want to step on any of them. How wonderful to be able to carry a small light that shines in the darkness and keeps us from harming one of these little creatures—or hurting ourselves if we squashed one!

Light is a powerful resource, depending on the amount of light that is needed and the purpose for the light. A small nightlight can provide comfort at bedtime. The light at dawn can bring hope for a new day. Bright sunlight brings warmth to our skin. When evening comes, a lamp can give us light to read or do other activities. Christmas lights bring joy and fireworks bring excitement.

John chapter one (John 1:9 ESV) talks about a true light that was coming into the world. Verse five says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Much of our world today is dark, but the light of the world, Jesus, has always been here (John 1:2 ESV). Jesus called Himself the light of the world and said we would never walk in darkness (John 8:32 ESV).

What a marvelous promise!

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:1-13 ESV