Jan and I are staying at the beautiful Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Washington. The lodge overlooks the majestic Columbia Gorge. We are gathering here with a group of pastors and spouses for a three-day retreat.

The power just went off a little after 5:00 a.m. Most people are still asleep at this hour, but as our normal routine, Jan and I have been up for an hour. It is an uneasy feeling having the power go off in a strange and unfamiliar place. The darkness was sudden. It came as they say, “In the twinkling of an eye.” I am writing these words using the stored power of my computer. Our computer screens are producing the only available light in our room. I always bring a small flashlight in my travel bag so we will not have to stumble around in the darkness if we need to move about before daybreak.

The moment the power went off, the Lord began to speak to me. This temporary power outage is an illustration of our spiritual reality. You and I live in a darkened world no matter how alive and illuminated it may appear. Sin has darkened its beauty and potential. Only the light of God’s truth expressed in Jesus Christ can restore our world to the brilliance of God’s original design.

The Scripture says, “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter and brighter until the full day.” The light from my computer screen reminds me of the reality of those words. Our only true and trusted source of light comes from the Spirit of God that we carry. Its power flows from heaven to earth and remains independent from the temporary expressions of false light empowered from earthly sources of human wisdom and intellect. This is an ever-increasing illumination carried within every believer. As each new soul enters God’s Kingdom through Jesus Christ that growing presence of truth-holders increases the presence of Light upon the earth. The darkness cannot withstand the increasing presence of Light.

No matter what happens in the days ahead, you will never be left in the dark. You always carry Light. If your surroundings suddenly go dark the Light you carry will shine brightly in the ink-black darkness. It’s amazing how bright and reassuring the glow from my computer screen is in this darkened lodge. It is amazing how brightly you shine in a dark world.

“I am the Light of the world.” – Jesus

(Postscript: Power back on at 6:40 a.m. –J)