Darkness is pervasive. Darkness is enveloping. Darkness is fearsome.

But one shaft of light can penetrate the darkness and dispel everything that darkness brings.

Even in that first darkness when almighty God was creating everything, the Spirit of God was hovering close and at hand. Since that first day of creation when God said, “Let there be light,” the light of God has shone down through the ages.

Now, because of a recent massacre where darkness and evil were so apparent, fear and intimidation threaten to crush us. Even on the darkest cloudy night when it is pitch black, a slight break in the clouds will reveal the stars of heaven that God put there for a witness against the darkness.

The person behind that witness against the darkness is still here. He is Jesus Christ. The gospel of John declares Jesus, in John 1:4-5, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Darkness does not win even though it seems, right now, that the light is so dim that it is almost imperceptible. The light of the gospel of Jesus Christ gives us power over the darkness.

The darkness is still there, but it does not rule.

In Matthew 10:28a, Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

The soul never dies; it lives forever. A madman may kill our body, but only God has the power to control the destiny of our soul.

So what should we be concerned about? Some nut case who can run us over or shoot us down, or God who holds our real future in His hands?

Death is inescapable; we will die, unless Jesus comes back first. The best thing is to always be prepared to die.

The only way to be prepared is to be a believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world and dispels the deepest darkness.

The only way darkness wins is if we turn our back on the invitation of God to put our faith and trust in the work of Christ. Light trumps darkness. Darkness does not win.

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

Dan Puckett works with road team operations at Life Action Ministries in Buchanan.