Delivered from Darkness

My dad worked in the coal mines of eastern Kentucky for over 20 years. I recall one of the “bring your family to work” days when they would let family members enter the mines. The thing I remember most is when they asked everyone to turn off their flashlights so they could see the darkness. The pitch-black experience is hard to describe as there was no light to be found no matter how big our pupils may have gotten.

I try to remind myself of that darkness when I read verses like Colossians 1:13-14: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

It is easy for us to forget how helpless we are in our sin. Because of common grace, even non-believers don’t experience the full weight of being in this domain of darkness. And when Jesus brings us out of this darkness, we forget how dark it really was. But when I think of the absolute darkness in the mines of eastern Kentucky, it helps me understand just how much I need Jesus. It’s a pitch-black domain, and we can’t get out by ourselves.

But the main point of that verse isn’t the darkness of our sin; it is God’s deliverance of us through Jesus. Jesus came not only to bring us out of darkness but also to transfer us to His kingdom. He didn’t just pull us out of darkness and send us on our way. He gave even more grace when He brought us to His very own place. It is one level of grace to rescue an orphan by giving them food, shelter, and education. It is an extra layer of grace to adopt the orphan and welcome him to your home. This is the grace we experience in Jesus.

And how did Jesus do this? As we celebrated at Easter, and every Sunday, Jesus bore our sin and went to a darkness we can’t imagine. He was buried in a dark tomb and descended into a spiritual darkness we can’t fathom as He was forsaken by God on our behalf. Yet the darkness could not hold Him as He conquered sin and death, bringing marvelous light to all who trust Him.
What do we do with this? We trust Him and live as citizens of His kingdom, bringing light to a dark world. Where will you shine God’s light of grace today?

By Philip Jones

Philip and his wife, Stacy, have been attending Immanuel since 2015. They are blessed to be raising four kids. His passion in ministry is to help others follow Jesus through teaching, preaching, and personal discipleship.