Today’s Post Written By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12)
When our children were young, our family would go on yearly camping trips over Father’s Day weekend with the same close friends.
Over time, each family became responsible for bringing certain items to share. One of my friends was responsible for bringing her infamous brownies. Everyone loved her tasty treats and couldn’t wait to dig in.
One evening, still feeling stuffed from dinner, we decided to wait a while before breaking into the pan of brownies. Meanwhile, we covered the desserts and gathered around the campfire as we waited for our food to digest.
Daylight faded, and darkness fell upon us. With the firelight’s glow illuminating our faces, we laughed and joked, reminiscing over previous camping expeditions. Our kids could be heard in the background, enjoying the freedom of playing outdoors after dark.
If you’ve ever been camping, what I’m about to describe may resonate as a familiar situation. Raccoons are nocturnal animals and only come out at night. Because raccoons in state parks are regularly exposed to people, their natural instinct to fear people is diminished. Combine this little detail with the fact that we were a group of distracted campers, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.
While we were all enjoying ourselves, someone heard rustling by the picnic table and decided to investigate. Moments later we heard a shriek. With flashlights in hand we hurried over to the scene. There on the picnic table was a bold little bandit, devouring our delicious brownies. We learned a powerful lesson that night… keep the coveted brownies locked up until you are ready to eat!
Now, there is a point to my little camping tale.
“You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8)
Like raccoons, lost souls hide under the cover of darkness to engage in shameful deeds. While that’s not surprising, I am surprised by how many Christians use the cover of darkness to engage in behavior in which they wouldn’t dare partake during daylight.
“Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, ‘Who sees us? Who will know?’” (Isaiah 29:15)
Jesus came to this earth and died for our sins so we would no longer have to live in sin and darkness.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it….The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (John 1:4-5, 9)
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)
Because of our great love for Jesus, let us put away our deeds of darkness and live as righteous children of the Light.
“I (Jesus) have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” (John 12:46)
“Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)