It was my junior year in high school. We were in English class, the last class before lunch. Suddenly my friend, Holly, let out a loud shriek. As we focused our attention on her to try to determine the cause for the outburst, most of us expected to see a snake, a large rat, or maybe someone bleeding. What we saw was Holly holding both legs out in front of her desk as she exclaimed, “I’ve got two different kinds of shoes on!”
That morning, she had dressed in the dark and unknowingly put her feet into two similar, but unmatched shoes. It was an unthinkable predicament for a style-conscious teenager. Her priority of the moment was to go home and fix it. Mr. Dunn, our teacher, thought she could surely wait until the end of class to remedy the situation, especially since lunch was the next thing scheduled. Despite his protests, Holly left the classroom, keys in hand, and headed to the parking lot. (A different era–comings and goings were easier than now.)
A fashion faux pas is a relatively minor problem. In my friend’s case, it was easily corrected, and merely added some levity to an otherwise unremarkable morning. But it is something that could have been prevented entirely if she had just simply turned the light on.
Making decisions in the dark can have unwelcome consequences. It is easy to stumble over unseen obstacles. A miss-step could cause someone to fall down stairs.
God’s first recorded spoken words in the Bible are, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) He doesn’t want us to make decisions in the dark. We have His Word, the Bible, as a guiding lamp for our lives. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105) Jesus identified Himself as the light of the world. (John 8:12) It is His wisdom that gives us light to navigate life. He is the source of all wisdom, and He offers it freely to those who turn to Him. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity. (Proverbs 2:6-7) Yet, how often do we make decisions without regard for His ways and His instructions?
We fail to turn on His light when we make decisions according to our own agenda without considering what is true or right. When a culture calls things that are good, “evil,” and things that are evil, “good,” it is living in darkness.
God has given us every opportunity to live in the light He has provided. Prayer and Bible study give us access to His perspective on all of life. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
If we seek Him, and His ways, He will direct our steps. Anything less is like trying to dress in the dark.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
I would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Copyright 2022 Phyllis L. Farringer
Simply put, and how true! How often I “dress in the dark”.
Phyllis I love your writing!
Thank you.
Thank you, Debby. To God be the glory.
What a good reminder to seek God and not be in the dark! Thank you, Phyllis.
Thank you, Vivian.
Phyllis,
Thank you for a timely message when there is so much darkness in our world. The Scriptures chosen are beacons for each of us. The Lord’s light in and through
Christ-followers can make a huge difference.
Thank you, Charlotte. Only His light can overcome the darkness.