Children are afraid of the dark. God does not want his disciples to be childish in that way. Contrary to it’s portrayal in science fiction and horror entertainment, the dark is not an entity or force. It has no power. Dark cannot enter a room and smother or snuff out the light, but light can enter the darkness and dispel the dark. Dark can only exist in the absence of light. Spiritual darkness cannot enter the heart of anyone who has an inner light. For anyone to be filled with darkness they must first choose to snuff out the light within themselves. Some people do this when they pursue wicket desires that require them to work in darkness.

Jesus knew that many of his listeners did not fear the dark, but they were wise enough to fear the works that unrighteous people did under cover of darkness. At night most people stayed safely at home and if it were necessary to go out, they did so only with a lamp or torch. Jesus does not address the dangers made possible in the physical world by the darkness of night or the absence of light. Jesus knows that the dangers that are found in spiritual darkness is much greater than any physical danger. Physical attacks will only take our physical life. The defeat that comes from living in spiritual darkness will take our eternal life.

Jesus told the crowd that when they walked with Him, they would never walk in spiritual darkness. Jesus is the light and He does not have an off switch. The light of Jesus will shine truth upon false theology and it will reveal dark lies that we have heard so often that we begin to believe them. His light will help us to discern when a leader claims to be teaching light, but is living in darkness. The light of Jesus drives out darkness and gives us eternal life, and immediately we start living life more abundantly. Jesus’s light is a life bringer, and a life changer.