"Darkness: Not Just The Absence Of Light" Series

Nicole was about 4 at the time. Once we were deep into the cave, which by the way had lights installed throughout, the tour guide treated us to the obligatory ‘total darkness’ experience.

He warned us first, so I picked Nicole up so she’d feel more secure, and the lights went out, and we all ooooo-ed and ahahah-ed at the total darkness. After a minute or so he turned the lights back on and continued on up the trail, leading the group of tourists.

As we fell in behind the group and started up some stone stairs, Nicole, who was still in my arms, leaned close and whispered in a very accusatory tone, “Why did you bring us here?”

One of my most prevalent childhood memories, simply because it is something I heard so many times, is of my father saying, “Darkness is only the absence of light”. He said it whenever one of us kids was afraid of the dark. As an adult and looking back I can’t help wondering why the idea of a nightlight never seems to have occurred to my parents. But it’s a moot issue now. We’re all grown up with kids of our own (who are allowed nightlights, by the way).

Anyway, every time I hear this line or think of it myself, the picture that comes to my mind is of my dad, framed in the light coming from the hallway through my open bedroom door. He’s getting ready to shut me into almost total darkness; me and the monster under my bed; and he’s saying, “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Darkness is only the absence of light. Now go to sleep”

Well, he was right, of course. But when we come to this passage in Ephesians 4 and see the term used by Paul, we find that he had something in mind, much more dangerous, much more devastating, than simply the absence of physical light.

This term should sound familiar to the Bible student who has been through Romans. In chapter one Paul argued the condemnation of all mankind through the folly of its rejection of God.

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…”

At the instant that sin was introduced into the world, death came to the spirit of man and his heart and mind were plunged into absolute darkness in regards to God and His love and His purpose and His plan.

“The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin”, goes the song, and that is an accurate assessment.

Spiritual darkness is much, much more than simply the absence of light. In this context, of course, it is the absence of the Light.

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4,5), says the gospel writer. That word ‘comprehend’ means to ‘lay hold of’ or ‘seize’, as in understanding. The same word is used in Ephesians 3:18 (and I’m sure you all remember that sermon very well and in detail), when Paul says he prays that we “…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth…of the love of Christ…”