In The Darkness Where Rats Dwell

Ever wake up in the middle of the night…no lights and very dark? Yes, we all have, especially the older you get; trust me. You shuffle as you navigate the bedroom darkness towards the…….kitchen? Okay, bathroom. You know how to get there, but you shuffle, no matter how urgent, because you can’t see!

This has become painfully aware to me as boxes have emerged between my bed and my…. Ah…. destination! That’s right; we’re packing to move into our new home! No matter how carefully I maneuver, it looks like a screen shot from the old “Batman” tv show, BAM…. ZONK… BOINK….. CRASH!

Last night I had one of those moments, and then I woke this morning, and ‘in the light’ read this morning’s Bible verse on my smartphone app.

¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” ~John 3:18-20

Now I’ve been a Trooper for 25 yrs., and one piece of advice I’ve given to enhance personal safety is, “stay in the light”!

Remember all those Indiana Jones movies?  Harrison Ford slinking into a dark, dank, damp and remote place and assuredly he steps on, or has falling on his hat, a swarm of RATS!

In the darkness is where rats dwell.  I’ve never been Indiana Jones, but I have been a rat.  How about you?  You know, you do something and you instantly look around and hope nobody saw you?  You’re coming from somewhere you shouldn’t have been and you hide in the shadows?  You ignore the needs of others and try to look busy, so you put on a show?  Ever do any of those, or something else that causes an instant dilemma for your conscience?

All of us are familiar with dark moments in our lives, but not all of us are familiar with the light Jesus Christ cascades over that darkness.  For those not acquainted with this light, it frees you from stumbling on in the dark places of life, and allows you to truly live!

Still, many of us know the life-giving Light of Christ, but we still choose darkness at times. The darkness we seek in times of rebellion or disobedience causes us to stumble even further because we hide our dark moments from all those around us; those who could help us overcome our struggles.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:15-17

We handicap ourselves by keeping our sin to ourselves, thus keeping it in the shadows.  We remain in the darkness so we stumble and trip, crashing through the obstacles, but that does not need to be!

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ~ John 8:12

Jesus wants every part of us in the light.  When we keep some of our life in darkness we allow the enemy a foot hold.  We need to remember that Jesus has all of our sin covered.  Plus, he knows about it anyway, so why keep it from him?

We also need to come to grips with, while our sins are covered by Christ, we need some good trustworthy friends, to watch our backs, and keep us lifted up in prayer and in accountability!

Thought to ponder on your journey today:  Are you spending time in darkness?  Are you hopelessly trying to conceal your “rats”?  They are known!  Get help from the One who covers all your sins and find some friends to pray for you too!  Get in the Light!