On that Friday in which Jesus was crucified, there was darkness from the sixth hour unto the ninth hour (Matt. 27:45). Three days later, the first day of the week, as it began to dawn, the women came with spices to anoint the body of Jesus (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1-2). The proverb, “It is darkest before dawn” from a scientific standpoint, is probably not correct. We have heard it all of our lives, which proves that because one hears something often, it does not make it accurate. My understanding is that from a scientific point of view, it is darkest “midway between sunset and sunrise,” maybe two or three in the morning. However, it probably is true that it is coldest before sunrise.
The proverb does have some validity in life experiences from a Biblical standpoint. When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane as he was facing the cross, it surely was the darkest hour. Read Matthew 26:36-46; 27:45-50; 28:1-6. The meaning of this proverb is that things can look very bleak and bad just before things improve or get better. During this pandemic, things seem to be so dark and bleak; however, things will get better. We have high hope.
The problem is that many people are “six feet under” because they could not deal with “dark days.” When a Japanese sub sank the USS Indianapolis, many of the men who survived the initial hit, floated on the ocean water until finally, they gave up. Life, even for the child of God, will have its challenges. The writer of Hebrews penned these words: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Heb. 12:1.) Job experienced dark days. He wrote, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” (Job 14:1-2.) Into each life some rain must fall, and some days be dark and dreary.
So, there is a need to be steadfast, to persevere even during trying times. Paul exhorted, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor.15:58.) One should also not shake one’s finger at God, blaming him for one’s dark days. Paul certainly did not point an accusing finger at the One from whom all blessings flow; instead, he sought relief from God (2 Cor. 12:7-10). James tells us, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God….” (James 1:13-15). Is it not the case that man always wants answers, but most of the time, he is looking in the wrong places? So, what is the answer to one’s going from the darkest to the dawn?
The Light of the World is the answer. Sin is responsible for all the pain, sorrow, suffering, and darkness in this world. Paul wrote, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Rom. 5:12.) Not all suffering is because of one’s sin. Job’s suffering is proof of that. Before sin entered the world, there was no death, no pain, no sweat from the brow, no thorns, nor cancer, virus, nor disease. The ground was cursed because of sin; the woman would be in pain in childbirth. The world was dark until Jesus came into the world: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4.) Jesus is “… the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9.) He is the light that came into the world (John 3:19). John wrote, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12.) With Jesus, the Light of the world, one can see his way out of darkness in this life and ultimately out of eternal darkness in the next if he is prepared.
What is the answer to seeing the dawn after the darkness?
The Light of the Way gives us the answer. The Psalmist wrote, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) and “The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Psalm 119:130.) When the Light of the World ascended back to heaven, he sent the light of the gospel. Paul wrote, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:3-4.) The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth (John 16:13). It is through the light of the gospel that one comes out of darkness (Acts 26:18; Eph. 5:8). Jesus, through the “light of the gospel,” will deliver us from darkness (Col. 1:13).
The gospel is NOT a textbook which catalogs answers to each “dark moment” in our lives, but it gives one the direction and strength to face the struggles and fight through them (1 Tim. 6:12). The gospel gives us direction on how to come out of spiritual darkness. We are told to believe in Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:17; John 8:24), to repent of sins (Luke 13:3), to confess our faith in Christ (Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37) and to be immersed for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).
The Light of the Wandering Pilgrim is the answer to arrive at the dawn, having followed the darkness. After obeying the gospel, children of God sometimes become wandering pilgrims (2 Thess. 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17). Abraham, in the long, long ago, was a stranger and a pilgrim, seeking a city (Heb. 11:8-16). “Pilgrim” denotes “a person who travels a long distance.” It is a long, rugged journey from earth to the heavenly city! As one makes this long journey, he or she may become a wayfaring/wandering pilgrim. “Wayfaring” literally means “by foot” and does not properly describe our plight. “Wandering” is a proper adjective to describe the “journey” and represents “one who strays, one who rambles; he has no proper direction. Sometimes we wander from the lighted pathway (1 John 1:7-10). We may be walking down a dark pathway at night with a flashlight. As long as we follow the light, we will not stumble (sin) off the pathway into the ditch or over the cliff! A child of God who fails to study and grow will “wander” back into the world of darkness (2 Peter 3:18). The Prodigal Son wandered away, but he came to himself and returned home (Luke 15:17).
Have you come out of darkness into God’s marvelous light by following the Light of the World, who gave us the Light of the Way, the gospel? If you are a wandering pilgrim, why not return to the Light of the gospel by asking the Lord to forgive you and help you (Heb. 12:2)?
Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from a sermon outline sent to me by my friend, Ray W. Peters.