Let The Light Shine In The Darkness

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:13-16

This conversation took place at Caesarea Phillipi, the city that was considered by the Jews of Jesus’ day to be the most idolatrous place in the entire Galilee, to this day it remains a place of nature worship and deep paganism.

Why did Jesus deliberately take his disciples to the most sinful, pagan place to reveal who He was? Why not in the temple or the royal courts, or the tomb of Jeremiah or one of the prophets, where the atmospheres itself pious? Jesus chose to reveal who He really was in the darkest corner of Israel.

Now that tells me that the Lord is not shy about shining His light in dark places, and that includes the ones inside me. Psalm 139 tells me that He is intimately acquainted with all of them, that I should forget about keeping secrets from Him. It seems He rather delights in walking into enemy territory and taking ground. Those areas of my life that I don’t want anyone else to see, (and usually can hide from them), He wants to visit, speak His word, illuminate and cleanse the place! The places where I’m darkest and weakest are His greatest opportunities to be glorified through repentance, transformation, and healing.

Take time to open before God the dark areas of your life, trusting in His perfect and patient love for you. He wants to reveal His forgiveness and beauty right where you are most ashamed and miserable. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against a saint whose faith and courage invite Jesus deep into the hidden areas of his soul, to be cleansed and given over to Him