Last Sunday, I said that every Christian should be required to go caving at least once. Upon reflection, I stand by my initial statement.
I well remember one of the first times I was spelunking. (“Spelunking” is the technical term we use to sound refined and uppity when we are talking about crawling around in a muddy cave). If you have ever been in a cave, you know how emotional it can be—exciting, scary, intriguing and very challenging. On my first trip, our guide insisted that every participant have at least two sources of light, a candle and a flashlight, because of how impossibly dark it is in a cave. Many of you have either experienced this or can imagine it. In a cave, deep underground, with no source of light, it is complete, utter darkness. In the absence of light, there is nothing, NOTHING you can see.
We crawled, scampered and slithered through various passageways and tunnels to go from one cavern to another. We eventually gathered in one of the larger “rooms.” Here, the guide had us all turn off our flashlights. Immediately, we were plunged into a deep, deep darkness. It was indeed completely impossible to see. After a few minutes, the guide encouraged us to wave our hands in front of our faces, to do anything possible to see anything at all. Nothing. Deep in the cave, there is no light, nothing but complete darkness.
We sat there, numbed by the darkness of it all. The totality of the darkness was overwhelming. Then the guide reminded us—“Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world.’ Without Christ, the world is in darkness.” Ouch. To think of this utter blackness, the total absence of light, to live your entire life in this bleak darkness was crushing. That anyone would dwell in the dark, real dark, without any light, was depressing, frustrating and convicting.
While feeling overwhelmed by the plight of those without Christ, the guide then reminded us—“Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world,’” and he lit a single candle. Suddenly the room blazed with light! Oh, in reality, I suppose it was just a little candle. But the contrast was amazing! Where once there was nothing at all but darkness, suddenly, with but one light, everything changed. Darkness was scattered, the absence was filled and light packed the room. Oh, for sure, there were places in the cave where it remained gloomy and dreary. But, nowhere was there darkness any longer. One light effectively chased it away; try as it might to resist, the darkness was completely overcome by the light.
Every time I have gone caving, I am amazed at how bleak and truly hopeless the darkness is. The thought that anyone would live like that saddens and horrifies me. But even more powerful is the victory of the One Light in bringing life to the world. No matter how extensive the night, the light of Christ completely overcomes the darkness. “In Him there is no darkness at all!” (I John 1:5). And we are children of the light—therefore, let us shine that light in the darkness!
To prepare for worship on Sunday, may I suggest you read I Samuel 2:11-36.
- Notice the contrast between Eli’s sons and Samuel. How many times does the author go back and forth between the two? What qualities of Samuel are identified?
- What is the sin of Eli’s sons in verses 13-16? Why would this be offensive to our Lord? For that matter, why would the fat of an animal be valued so highly?
- What possible reason would there be women who are “serving” at the entrance at the tent of meeting (verse 22)? What are they doing there?
- What is the answer to Eli’s rhetorical question— “who is to intercede between man and God” (verse 25)? What answer does Eli expect? How does this point uniquely to Christ?
- When God prophecies doom for Eli’s family, He also hints at the mercy of redemption in verse 35. Where is redemption highlighted here?
By Henry Knapp