“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil; for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
In one of Paul Gerhardt’s hymns, he writes: “Midst the darkness, storm, and sorrow, One bright gleam I see; Well I know the blessed morrow, Christ will come for me… Who is this, who comes to meet me, On the desert way, As the Morning Star foretelling God’s unclouded day? He it is who came to win me on the Cross of shame; In His glory well I know Him, Forevermore the same.” Gerhardt’s words are an honest assessment of the circumstances, and situation, that the child of God finds himself at times. Surrounded by the kingdom of darkness, there are times when it seems to be closing in, seeking to stiffle all hope and certainty of blessing. David knew this reality when he wrote the twenty-third psalm. He was often faced with the dark plans and efforts of his enemies to destroy him. And yet, he learned to live unsurprised, nor overcomed by it, finding God’s solution by specific faith in the Omnipotent and Gracious Shepherd, whose rod of authority and direction, along with a staff of protection, would comfort his heart. The ominous clouds of the enemy would, even for the most stout-hearty believer throughout history, seem dark at times, but as David found, he too can overcome by placing the whole of his confidence in the Great Shepherd to whom all has been committed. Based upon the knowledge of the truth concerning the Shepherd, and what He had promised to be and to do for the sheep, confidence would arise in darkness, and overcome. But what is the essential truth that this knowledge possesses, which gives the believer the strength to hold on, pull through, and overcome the assault of the enemy? It is the fact that the light cannot be quenched, or put out, that God Himself will not be overcome by darkness, for in Christ, He has demonstrated before all men and angels, principalities and powers, that He, the Light of the World, will not be quenched.
In the first chapter of the Gospel according to John, we read: “In Him (Christ) was Life, and the Life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (1:4,5) The words, “…comprehended it not,” speak of not being overcome, or extinguished. Certainly the powers of darkness were rejoicing when Christ died on the Cross. However, they were not rejoicing when He rose victorious from the dead, for by that act, according to the words of Christ that His work of redemption was finished, He demonstrated for time and eternity that He had overcome all that Satan, Hell, and Death could throw at Him. He had risen from the clutches of darkness, as it did not have the power and authority to destroy Him. Such is the victory, Christ’s victory, that He has imparted to the believer. It is not the believer’s victory in and of himself, even in Jesus’ name. It is Jesus’ victory imparted to, or committed to the believer for him to believe and receive. It is with this knowledge that Christ’s victory is complete, and that no amount of spiritual darkness, or difficulty in circumstances, can alter or defer it, that the believer can lay hold upon the Faithful God who will never let us go, nor fail us, nor cease to meet us in our time of need, when our enemies oppose us in doing the will of God.
It is that certainty of victory that Gerhardt expressed in the closing stanza of his hymn: “He, who in the hour of sorrow Bore the curse alone; I, who through the lonely desert Trod where He had gone. He and I, in that bright glory One deep joy shall share; Mine, to be forever with Him, His that I am there.” The victory of Christ is that of God, unaltered, undiminished, filled with His overcoming power.
Dear Father, Fill us with Light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.