The Underground
Dennis and I were working in the yard one day, raking in areas that have gone undone for quite a while, areas that a mower can’t get to. We have a lot of trees, so therefore, we have a LOT of leaves. I was being careful, fearing I might stir up some snakes, but thankfully, I didn’t see any.
Having a lot of trees, like we do, also means we don’t have a lot of grass, since it doesn’t get enough sunlight. So, when we raked up the leaves, it is just dirt underneath. It’s crazy, cool and creepy all at the same time, but when the blanket of leaves is removed, all the bugs, worms and other creatures scatter in the presence of light. It literally looked like the ground was bubbling as all the bugs scurried to find cover. They are used to the dark underground, having the freedom to roam at will, so being exposed to the light interrupts their way of life.
John 8:12 tells us that Jesus is the Light of the world. As believers of Jesus Christ, He dwells inside us and that light shines through so that others can see it. Have you tried to witness to people who you know are not serving Him, and all of a sudden, they have somewhere else to be? They’d rather be anywhere than listen to another Jesus freak preaching another sermon to them. Back to my yardwork, you are the rake and they are the bug…you’re exposing them to the light when they think they’re happier living in the dark, where they’re free to do what they want, when they want, with no one to tell them what to do. You are interrupting their way of life.
What they don’t see is there’s no REAL freedom living in the dark. Just like those bugs being covered by a mountain of leaves, our sin covers us like a heavy wool cloak, keeping us in darkness. Sure, you can move side to side, and always down, but never can you move up. That’s just where Satan wants you–he’s the ruler of darkness and he doesn’t want you to be exposed to the Light; he knows that the light is synonymous with truth and he’s afraid if you learn the truth, he will lose you to his arch-rival.
If you’re the bug, don’t be afraid of the light; once you adjust to it, you’ll come to find that you’ve been missing a lot. If you’re the rake, don’t be afraid to expose someone to your light. The bible commissions us to go into the world and share the Good News. Sure, some will scatter, but if you draw just one out of the dark, you will have made your Father proud.