HOPE TRIUMPHS

THE LIGHT ALWAYS OVERCOMES DARKNESS

Image credit: RAHUL DOGRA on Pexels.

By REVEREND TONY ZEKVELD

 The preparations have begun for Diwali next month. In my mind, I associate the festival with lights. I see rows of lights decorating the front of homes and shops, and fireworks lighting up my neighbourhood sky. People have proudly shown me their ‘diwas’ as they share stories from their unique histories.

The lights tell the story of deliverance from injustice, oppression, or slavery. The light drives out the darkness; good wins over evil. These stories tell of a hero who subdues a powerful villain, never to rise up again.   

These stories show that God has placed within us a sense of right and wrong. Regardless of our culture or background, we are incensed with evil. Rightly so. Stories of deliverance and freedom inspire us to celebrate the feats of our heroes by feasting and we want them to shape the values of our children.

In my faith, too, there’s a concurrence on this belief. We ask, is there anyone powerful enough who can defeat the powers of darkness which live inside of us? I’m thinking specifically of sins like envy, hatred, lust, or greed; the kind of things that create the villain in us. Is there anyone who can defeat Satan, the most powerful villain who wants to shape the villain in us? Is there anyone who can free us from the fear of death?

For this, we need someone who is a true and righteous man, one more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is also true God. Only He can deliver us from Satan’s hands, from the powers of darkness (sin) in us and from the fear of death.

In His love, God sent such a One into our world, His one and only Son, His Son from all eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to battle these dark evil powers for us; powers we can never conquer. Those evil powers did their worst, unleashing all their fury against Him. The Lord Jesus took the blows for us and put Jesus to death on the cross in our place.

It looked like defeat. But on the third day Jesus arose to life from the dead, never to die again. He conquered the powers of Satan, death and hell for all who trust on Him for deliverance!

Only Jesus delivers from these powers. Jesus is the light of the world!

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). He brings true deliverance – forgiveness, new life and eternal life to all who believe in Him!

Reverend Tony Zekveld can be reached at the Hope Centre at 416-740-0543 and tzekveld@primus.ca.