Why is our world becoming darker?
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John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. 
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Jesus said in John 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 

Jesus also said in John 12:46 “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who 
believes in me should stay in darkness.”

John the Apostle testifies in John 1:4-5 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 

Understood in the Greek is katalambano {kat-al-am-ban'-o} meaning to lay hold of so as 
to make one's own, to obtain, attain to, to take into one's self, appropriate, to seize 
upon. In a bad sense, it means to take possession as of evils overtaking one, of the last 
day overtaking the wicked with destruction, of a demon about to torment one. In a good 
sense, it is used of Christ who by his holy power and influence lays hold of the human 
mind and will, in order to prompt and govern it. It also means to detect, catch, or to lay 
hold of with the mind: to understand, perceive, learn, comprehend.

The darkness can never lay hold of the light, to seize it, or take possession of it. The 
darkness can not understand or comprehend the light, and cannot overcome it. Jesus 
said “I AM the Light of the world”. Whoever believes in him does NOT stay in darkness, 
does not walk in darkness, and is not overcome by darkness, but will have the light of 
life. And that light will bring the holy power and influence of Christ which lays hold of the 
human mind and will to inspire and govern it, bringing understanding, perception, 
learning and comprehension.

John 12:35-36 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while 
longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who 
walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you 
have it, so that you may become sons of light." …

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, 
and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before 
men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 

Jesus said that He was the light of the world while He was in the world. Who did He 
appoint to carry His light after He ascended? US! We are now SONS OF LIGHT. We 
have become the world’s light shining through our good deeds and our praise to the 
Father in heaven.

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever 
brighter till the full light of day.

Psalm 89:15-16 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the 
light of your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in 
your righteousness. 

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is 
light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk 
in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in 
the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies 
us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:8-14 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live 
as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and 
truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of 
darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the 
disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is 
light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from 
the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 

When we first become born again, as one risen from the dead, we have a gleam of light. 
As we walk in the light, producing the fruit of the light, all goodness, righteousness and 
truth, our light shines brighter and brighter until it is like the sun at noonday. We are 
made to shine for Christ in a dark and dying world. The brighter we shine, the darker the 
darkness seems to get in contrast.

So don’t be discouraged by the darkness surrounding you. Light overcomes darkness. 
Shine brighter!

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Posted at "Ask OldTimer" www.members.tripod.com/~KarleenP/text/askoldtimer.htm