Series: Jesus Manifesto
Message: Getting Out of the Darkness
Preacher: Paddy McCoy
Reflection: Japhet De Oliveira
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Beyond: J. Murdock
Live Purpose: Lydia Svoboda
Editor: Becky De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Colossians 1:11-14 in the New International Version (NIV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: When I was a little kid, I was absolutely scared of the dark. I can still recall how I would lie down on my bed and if I faced left, I would be facing my door which opened to the corridor upstairs. I still like to face left when I sleep to this day! Looking out my bedroom door onto the corridor was fine as long as there was a faint light from downstairs. However, once everyone went to sleep, that entire area right outside my bedroom door came to life. As my eyes would adjust to the pitch darkness, so my imagination would run wild. I would tell myself “This is not real; it is all in my head.” Pretty impressive for a 7-year-old boy. But it did not stop the carpet coming to life, nor the upper staircase banner rail from moving. The fear would be so intense at times that I would sneak under my covers and not look to the left. I could hear myself breathing. Of course, I could only last for a few minutes as the heat under the covers eventually became unbearable, as did the desire for fresh air. So I would lower the cover ever so gently from my head, peak out, take in as much cool air as I could, and then cover myself again. This would continue until I fell asleep.
Darkness is very rarely seen as a good thing, even though several studies show ambient light is not good for you. Darkness is a powerful metaphor for hiding our struggles. It has been associated for millennia with lack of transparency or dishonesty. The apostle John hearing the reference to Genesis 1 in the words of Jesus recorded in his Gospel account of how Jesus claimed to be the light: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Paul also shared in another letter to the Corinthian church that Jesus is the light, showing us who the Father is:
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
That is the purpose of the light. Paul shares that the “kingdom of light” is in fact the “kingdom of the Son.” The light, Jesus, is intended to draw us away from the places of darkness.
Recalibrate: If light is the way forward, why is darkness so attractive? If truth is the way forward, why is ignorance so common? If joy is the way forward, why does sadness take hold of us?
Respond: Pray for your eyes to be open.
Research: Read 2 Corinthians 4.
Remember: “The Son paid for our sins, and in Him we have forgiveness” (Colossians 1:14, ICB).
Japhet De Oliveira is administrative director for the Center for Mission and Culture at Adventist Health in Roseville, California.
With your little one, explore how when things open the light comes on. Go to the fridge. When the door opens the light comes on. Try the microwave and the oven—even the car. When we touch our phones, the screen lights up. When we open our hearts to love, the light comes on in our eyes and our lives. Let love live in you.
Watch this video about Baby Moses. Moses’ family must have been very afraid. They loved Moses and did not want anyone to hurt him. How amazing is it that the princess found Baby Moses and took Him to the palace to live with her. This story shows us what Jesus has done for all of us. He has rescued us and He has a place for us in His kingdom. Do you want to be rescued and be a part of God’s kingdom? All you have to do is say “yes” to Jesus and begin your adventure with Him.
When I was growing up, I had this massive collection of baseball cards that I loved to look through. Every time my allowance money came in, it was straight to the store to buy more cards. Sometimes the packs were filled with lame cards, or cards I already had. But every now and again, there would be an awesome card in the deck that would suddenly become my new best card. But the goal wasn’t always to keep the good ones. Sometimes it was to trade them to my friends for other cards I really wanted.
Colossians 1:13 discusses the idea of people being transferred into the Kingdom. We don’t start in the Kingdom but we have a way to get there through Jesus. Once we get to know things about Jesus, we want to know more and more and more. Did you know Jesus loves you? Whoa! What else? He wants to spend eternity with you showing you how important you are. Whoa! What else?
Sometimes it was cool to keep my baseball cards to myself and not trade them away. But sometimes, it was awesome to get cards that I knew I could trade for others that I really wanted that featured my favorite players. Sometimes it’s hard to give away things I like doing, or things that feel good, or things that seem fun just because I’m a Christian. But when I think about how much better it is to be with Jesus than to be without Him, there’s nothing worth keeping that I can’t trade away.
What’s something you would be willing to trade to be transferred into the Kingdom?
“In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The concept of redemption comes from the concept of slavery. He has redeemed you—He has taken you out of slavery and brought you into His own kingdom. The Gospel is freeing. While many say religion is enslaving as it keeps you from living with all your human desires and wishes, the true “religion” of God—the true gospel—brings freedom. You are not enslaved by the need for control over your life and your loved ones’ lives. You are free to live in the utmost confidence of His endless love for you and His perfect intentions for your good.
Zan Long is GRC director for faith development for ages 0-17. She lives in Sydney, Australia, and serves at her local church in nearby Kellyville.
J. Murdock is associate pastor at Boulder Adventist Church in Boulder, Colorado, where he focuses on youth and young adult ministry.
Lydia Svoboda is a junior theology major at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.