The word “darkness” is mentioned 163 times in the New American
Standard Bible translation, and the word “light,” 229 times.
As used in the Bible, “darkness” refers to the condition of people
who have not experienced the “change of heart” of those who have had
their spiritual eyes opened and are now in the light.
I think that the key word here is “change.” As I’ve mentioned before,
this change is manifested by a turning away from hardness and passive
cruelty (support of any activity that causes suffering) as well as away
from overt cruelty.
In John 3:19-21, Jesus uses both words: “light” and “darkness” –
19 "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the
world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their
deeds were evil.
20 "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come
to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his
deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
~ New American Standard Bible
In 1 John 1:5-6 “light” and “darkness” are mentioned again:
5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to
you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
~ New American Standard Bible
In Acts 26:18-19 Jesus tells Paul that He is sending him “…to open
their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the
dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of
sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in
Me.”
Galatians 5:22-24 lists the characteristics increasingly found in
those who have experienced a spiritual change:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires.
~ New American Standard Bible
A true believer should be showing evidence of such fruit as concerns
all of God’s creation, not limiting it to only certain creatures. Those
who truly experience this change from darkness to light continue to
learn and expand their sphere of compassion.
See also:
http://www.all-creatures.org/heart/7nov2003.html
http://www.all-creatures.org/heart/20031209.html
