Jesus Through the Darkness

Jesus Through the Darkness
By Julie Taylor

Evil should be squashed without hesitation, always, while blessings should be bestowed beyond measure for the good. This represents our human sense of justice, and we can become unsettled when that is shaken.

Whether it’s a natural disaster that comes like a thief in the night, taking everything from people in the blink of an eye, or an illness that seems to overwhelm our health system, current events, governance, or something personal, we find ourselves asking some pointed questions when we experience what we feel is an injustice.

We live under the authority of many different laws about how we should live and behave. These laws tell us what we can and can’t do. The Bible gives us some rules to live by—a moral code of conduct given to us by God. Do we merge the two into one list of do’s and don’ts for everybody?

Which do we follow?

Civil laws are designed to keep people safe. Spiritual laws are designed for moral growth. God’s spiritual laws function in combination with our choices; He allows us free will to choose to do what He says or go our own way. God doesn’t force us to love Him. Government laws are made to be followed, or else there is a penalty.

The ability to abide by both civil and spiritual laws comes from righteous behavior that stems from an internal moral decency. Our civil laws tell us it’s not okay to vandalize or take someone else’s belongings. But if we love and follow Jesus, and we’re modeling our lives after Him, we shouldn’t want to.

If everyone valued righteous behavior, the world would be a better place. But we can’t force this. While it’s inherently difficult to maintain grace when faced with violence or aggression, or forgiveness in the face of unspeakable injustice, this is what Jesus calls us to.

Jesus calls us to welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and care for the sick and imprisoned. These aren’t old-fashioned ideals; they are Jesus’ own words:

Matthew 25:34-36 (Common English Bible)
34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’”

Anger, revenge, and aggression are completely opposite to what Jesus stood for. These attitudes only amplify our unrighteous self-focus, bringing about greed, dissension, and hubris. We are reminded of this through Jesus’ own words:

Matthew 5:22 (Common English Bible)
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery hell.”

These attitudes are also completely contradictory to the love that Jesus calls us to:

Matthew 22:37-40 (Common English Bible)
“37 He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.’”

We all grow spiritually and morally at different rates. True moral change occurs from the inside out. It’s only when someone decides to fully give God their heart that they will allow the Holy Spirit to change their thinking and priorities. Giving something your heart is a personal decision, and with God, it’s one we’ll have to make over and over. He changes us over time—through trials, triumphs, and moments of spiritual growth. We can’t manufacture this in someone else; it’s a personal journey for each of us.

It’s not the government’s job to direct someone’s spiritual growth. That journey is personal and between God and the individual. Frankly, our spiritual journey is none of the government’s business. There doesn’t need to be tension between political and religious function, because it is possible to fulfill both without compromising our faith.

Well, that’s easier said than done sometimes, isn’t it? It’s hard to have hope when you’re shivering under a bridge, reviewing every decision you’ve ever made in your life, trying to understand why this is happening to you. It’s hard to feel joy when you’re facing a medical condition that is slowly stealing your life away. It’s hard to count your blessings with gratitude when an ICE agent is banging on your door or has you pulled over at an immigration checkpoint. Life is hard, it hurts, and it’s just not going to feel right sometimes. Acknowledging that doesn’t really help joy, happiness, and peace flow more fully, so where does that leave us?

How do we go on? How do we move forward?

All of the disciples and early Christians experienced fear and uncertainty after Jesus’ death. Imagine if Peter and the other 11 had responded differently to this persecution. What if Peter said, “Forget this, I’ll bet I could get my old fisherman job back”? What if he never continued in the ministry of Jesus Christ? What if Matthew had given up on following Jesus and teaching His Word, left the work of healing the sick and the lame, and went back to his previous work as a tax collector? He certainly would have made more money, and that work was certainly safer. What if they all gave up? No one to pass on Jesus’ teaching. No one to continue to heal and perform miracles. No one to write down all that happened.

If someone accused us of being Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?

While we’re obligated to follow the laws set by our governments, as the Bible encourages us to be law-abiding citizens (Romans 13:1), these aren’t more important than our ultimate commitment to God.

We seek out every option, we show up at civil governance meetings, we get involved, we volunteer, and we continue to help one another wherever we can. We don’t stop. Our mission doesn’t change. We represent the love of Jesus Christ and continue to make disciples for the transformation of the world, no matter how dark it gets.

The power of light that overcomes the darkness lies partially in our ability to maintain Jesus’ holy example despite the darkness all around us. Whether we feel justice is done by our civil laws or not, as Christ’s followers, we show love, forgiveness, and grace. Jesus conquered by love, patience, self-control, generosity, and forgiveness. Jesus healed people no one would touch—people considered to be enemies—and He never raised a hand in aggression. Our determination to stay the course of righteousness, despite an environment that continues to darken all around us, keeps the flame of Jesus’ light glowing.

We have hope because Jesus’ love is so powerful. It overcame the world. It overcame hate, it overcame injustice, and it lives on forever. It lives on in our work, our love, our forgiveness, and our grace. The perplexities and apparent injustices of life will always be there, for each of us, in as many different forms as we are ourselves. Jesus is our constant, our rock, our redeemer, our Good Shepherd. We obey the law, but we follow Him, and we’ll keep our eyes, and our hearts focused on Him.

It’s important to note that no matter what divides us, scares us, or unsettles us, Jesus is the rock on which we all stand. No matter what is on our minds or hearts, no matter who or how many disagree with our sense of direction, Jesus is always there to listen and absorb what we’re going through. When we celebrate, we thank God for all He provides. The Holy Spirit will always be there to absorb our tears, our praise, and everything in between.

And there will always be the sick to visit and pray over. There will always be the underserved in our communities to support. There will always be new people to bring into the church. There will always be prisoners to minister to, people to feed, and people to clothe.

Our work—our mission in Christ—goes on. We go on, we move forward, because nothing feels better, lifts our hearts, or fills us with joy like spreading God’s love to others in this way.