Isaiah 9

No, I’m not talking about convicting you of a crime! I’m talking about convicting you of truth, helping you to see and understand when you’re on the wrong path. Could Isaiah have said it any more clearly? “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (vs 2)

Have you ever been outside at midnight when it’s cloudy and there is no moonlight? It’s hard to see. If you’re out in the country away from the “light pollution” of the city, sometimes it can be hard to see your hand in front of your face! It can be dangerous to walk in the dark—especially if you aren’t familiar with your surroundings. Tripping over the wrong thing can lead to great bodily harm.

This is also true in a spiritual sense. As the spiritual night of evil settled down on this world, man became depraved in his heart; relationships began to break down, families began to fall apart, and the knowledge of right and wrong grew dimmer and dimmer with each successive generation. Very quickly, humanity became a people walking in darkness.

If you’re like me, you’ve certainly felt like you have walked in spiritual darkness! You may feel like that right now, but take heart! God always finds people who walk in darkness, but He never leaves them in darkness. Isaiah says He shines a “great light” on them. When God meets us in our darkness, He immediately brings us light that is like a sunrise.

Later in the chapter, Isaiah wrote: “The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. All the people will know it.” (vs 8-9) This is why we should never fear deception. With God, deception (continually walking in darkness and not knowing it’s darkness) isn’t ultimately possible. He always illuminates the darkness.

But the astonishing thing is that some people prefer the darkness! Some people see the light, but even though they know it is light, they prefer to head right back into the cave and act like they never saw the light in the first place. That’s why the only thing we should worry about is not that we might be deceived, but that our pride would cause us to reject what we know is true.

So, are you wondering if you’re in darkness? God will let you know. Thinking you might be believing lies? God will convict you of the truth. To those who walk in darkness, He is and will always be a great light.