I think the time was in the summer of 1964. My birthday was falling on a weekend and my dad promised to take me camping with all of my friends. My grandfather let us have his old, large, army tent. I had several of my friends coming and we were all excited. We were going to set up camp, at the back of my uncle James' farm, on a cliff over looking Reelfoot Creek.
Of course my little brother, Randy, had to be there also, which wasn't too bad because we did everything together anyway, even though I was four years older. Randy was also friends with most of my friends.
Well, we set up camp and had a fine fire started. I believe we cooked hot dogs. We were all having a good time playing. It was getting late and dad said we needed to get in the tent and start trying to go to sleep. Dad left the tent flap open so the light of the fire would shine in the tent.
Everyone finally got settled down and off to sleep. We were all sleeping next to each other in sleeping bags. The tent had a long pole in the middle holding it up. Randy was sleeping right behind the pole.
After about two hours of sleeping, the wind blew and closed the flap of the tent. It was pitch dark in the tent, and that was ok, until Randy was awaken by the pure darkness. He jumped up screaming, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe". He started running around trying to get out of the tent but kept hitting the pole which caused the tent to shake and he was stepping on everyone. All of us were yelling and screaming like a bunch of little girls. Finally, someone found the opening to the tent and opened it up. Randy saw that light from the fire and he was like a bug hugging a summer night porch light. He ran and sat by the fire gasping for breath. The darkness had just terrified him. He may still be afraid of the dark today. I know he is afraid of mice.
Many people are afraid of the dark. Some will not walk down a dark ally at night. Others do not like to come home and walk into a dark house. Many sleep with night lights. Just a small light can give comfort to those who are afraid. We are conditioned from childhood that bad things can happen in the dark. Also, we can't live in darkness. We have to have light to function as well as plants. They must have light to grow.
Now, let's talk about another light we need. In 1John 1:5 we read that, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all". That light is a moral goodness, love, and full of purity and truth. In Eph. 5:8 Paul says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light" and in vs.11 he says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them". In vs 14 he says that Christ will give us light. Paul says in Phil. 2:14-15, "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." Christ in His sermon on the mount was preparing His disciples for a great work in a world of darkness. He knew that they would need to have courage and be in obedience to God to carry out their mission. In Matthew 5:14-16 Christ is encouraging them by telling them "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven".(NKJV)
The early Christians had such a strong faith in God that they let their light shine, even in the face of fatal persecution for them and their loved ones. They believed that being a Christian was letting the light of God shine through them to dispel the moral darkness of their world.
Now, let's talk about us. Is there a moral darkness hovering over our land today? Has the tent flap fallen, causing the tent to be pitch dark? Do we in this country kill babies before they are born so the mother can still have her independence or to not have a financial difficulty? Do we spend billions of dollars each year advertising a drink that kills or injures thousands of innocent people each year? Do we teach our children that life evolved without a creator other than being created from a loving God? How many children in our country tonight will go to bed and not have both parents there to tuck them in and kiss them good night?
I am sure you can name other things but this is dark enough. There is NO LIGHT IN THIS. The tent is completely dark and everyone is still asleep.
I say I am a Christian. My light has at times been hidden or weak. Jesus wants me to let it shine. (Remember the song.) Even a candle, if it is not hidden under a basket, dispels some darkness. Just think, if I put my candle with all of your candles, how much darkness together we could dispel. Remember, our light is not a militant light. It does not use force. It uses the love of a Heavenly Father and the fruits of His Spirit.
If I live a Christ like life, and live every day loving God with all my being, and also love my neighbor as my self, I AM GOING TO RUN SOME DARKNESS OUT OF TOWN, because if the world can see God living in me the way He wants to be seen, those living in darkness will be like my brother, Randy, wanting to get out of that dark tent and run to the light.
I am removing my basket and getting a bigger candle. If you think it is a good idea to put our candles together, send me your comments to rhepler52@gmail.com. I know I need to do a better job shining and that is my plan. You may already be shining, but if not, let's shine our lights for God together and in doing so glorify our Father in Heaven.
Have a good day!
Rick Hepler
