Punching Holes in the Darkness

A while back, I came across the following account: "As a young boy, Robert Louis Stevenson was intrigued by the work of the old lamplighter who went about with a ladder and a torch, setting the streetlights ablaze for the night. One evening in Edinburgh, Scotland, as a young Robert stood watching with childish fascination, his parents heard him exclaim, 'Look, look! There is a man out there punching holes in the darkness. "‍

As Christians, we are “hole punchers in the darkness.” The world is a dark place…that is almost a given. That evil of every kind looms on the street corners would not get much of an argument from us. That a pagan world today is filled with wickedness should not shock us. That sinners are sinners should not surprise us. That good is replaced by immorality of all sorts, which probably doesn’t astonish us. All of this accurately paints the landscape of our culture.

The sad reality is that, step by step, the world is staggering deeper into darkness. It would be easy to stand back and rejoice in its demise. But then…so were all of us, but we have been"washed, sanctified and justified" by the grace of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11). To be hole punchers in the darkness will mean realizing three certainties.

1) People Love Darkness

John 3:19-20 reminds us, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” Metaphorically speaking, darkness is all around us, and the Prince of Darkness is having his day. To think that evil, paraded by the hosts of darkness, wants to have their schemes opened up for what it really is, is to be naïve. Satan is down for the count, and he knows it well, but he is still alive and working. The writer of Psalm 82 certainly grasped the reality of darkness when he writes, “They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken”[v5 ESV]. The Bible states that those who walk in darkness not only cannot find their way around, but they stumble in the process (John 12:35; Proverbs 4:19).

2) Light Exposes Darkness

Those who have received the goodness of God above have the wonderful privilege, difficult as it is at times, to be witnesses to those in darkness. The reality is that hole punchers in the darkness bear a heavy responsibility as God’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Our hearts should be burdened for those in darkness. If we’re not already, we should be moved to pray for open doors of opportunities to bring the gospel to the lost. The consequence and condemnation are severe for those enveloped in darkness (Isaiah 5:20; Revelation 20:11-15).

Many of us are most likely familiar withPaul’s admonition in Ephesians 5:11, "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them," and thenhe adds a descriptive note regarding the “them” with, “for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.” If indeed we are the lights of Jesus, then by the righteous lives we live in His power, the deeds of darkness will be exposed. But it is a battle that rages…a vigorous war with the arch-enemy (Ephesians 6:12).

3) Light Rescues from Darkness

I, for one, am thankful for the grace of God that is extended through the gospel. I was only nine years old when I was saved and rescued out of darkness. Many of us are still praying for loved ones and friends who need to be released from captivity. I am encouraged that while darkness has a hold, the grace of God is powerful in bringing souls to salvation. In Paul’s testimony before Agrippa, God used him before the Jews and Gentiles to bring them from “darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness” [Acts 26:18].

After describing the church as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession,” the Apostle Peter declares, “that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” [1 Peter 2:9 ESV]. A proclamation needs to be made. A light needs to shine. Hope needs to be given. Our prayer and desire are that many more will be delivered from the realm of the evil one and brought into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). So, let’s get out there and punch some holes in the dark world!

[1]https://www.sermonnotebook.org/new%20testament/John%209_1-11.htm