If you are walking in the light, why do you fear the darkness?

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Jesus Is the Light of the World

We know that Jesus is called the light of the world (John 8:12). If we are walking in His light, we should have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7). This light cannot be overcome even by the darkness found in the world (John 1:5). Just as God is light, the absence of God is darkness, but we have no need to fear the darkness because we are the children of light (1 Thess. 5:5). Those who still walk in darkness are those who haven’t had their eyes opened yet and are blinded by the god of this world, Satan (2 Cor. 4:4; Acts 26:18). They do fear the darkness because they have an appointment with death and then judgment (Heb. 9:27). But we have passed from this judgment to eternal life by Christ (1 John 3:14), so those of us who have put our trust in Christ have no more need to fear the darkness. So why do some of us still fear the darkness if we are walking in the light?

Following the Light

John 8:12 tells us that whoever follows Jesus will not be walking in darkness, but they will have light. However, if we are not following Christ, we may experience dark times. Some who have strayed from following Christ have had what I call “dark nights of the soul” because they have lost fellowship with Christ. You will not lose your relationship, but you can fall out of fellowship with Christ, and when you fall out of fellowship with Christ, you will lose the light source that shines in the darkness (John 1:5). Don’t let fear keep you in the dark. Follow Christ and you will have the light needed to walk.

Perfect Love Casts out Fear

Jesus is perfect, and He loved us in the most perfect manner possible; that is, He lived a sinless life and died in complete innocence. His perfect life and sacrifice made it possible for us to have Jesus’ righteousness imputed to us (2 Cor. 5:21), so this perfect love of His should cause us to see that we have no need to fear because perfect love casts out fear, or at least it should (1 John 4:18). Need more light? Then stay in His Word more frequently because the Word of God lights our path (Psalm 119:105) so that we might not stumble and fall. If we are following Him, then we won’t be walking in darkness (John 8:12) but in His light since He is the light (John 1:5, 9), therefore we have no cause to fear.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending me the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, so that I might see to follow Him in a dark and decaying world and for helping me to not fear the darkness, for the darkness can never overcome the Light of the world. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen