Oh, That Shadow of Darkness

Early on the morning of December 28, 2022, God awakened me as was his morning custom, and I continued my reading of the New Testament – specifically, 1 John 1:5, “And this is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Needless to say, I meditated about that light. I wondered, ‘What type of light was it? Was it an all-encompassing light? A guiding light?’ My meditation fixed on God’s light as a ‘guiding light,’ and my call that day was to walk in his light. I was to follow that light, even as the children of Israel followed that cloud by day as they traversed the wilderness. Suddenly, I was impressed about how that light washed over me as I approached it, leaving behind me a shadow of darkness. I wondered about that and inquired of my Lord:

“Lord? What is the light that washes over me from the front but leaves a shadow behind me?”

“Child,” Father answered, “that light that washes over you is the light of my Son… His righteousness washes over you and that is how I see you… basking in my Son’s righteousness.”

“Yes, Lord, thank you Father.” He must’ve known I wanted to ask another question… of course he did… he rules my heart.

“Yes?” He responded warmly.

“Yes – uh… I was just wondering… what of the shadow that follows me? Your Word says that there is no shadow of darkness in you.”

“It’s not mine, it’s yours. From my vantage point, I see none of your sins because here, heaven is awash in light. Here, your sins were purged… completely… utterly. As for that shadow of darkness that trails you? Those are your sins that you remember… the sins that my Son’s death covered but you’ll remember as a stain that will trail you as long as you are on earth.”

“But why is that necessary Lord? I know no guilt for my sins… I am so grateful for that, but why the shadow?” 

“Why? If you forgot and lost that gratitude… you’d fall back into sin and I would have to chasten a son that I love. Do you want that?”

“No, my Lord.” I answered weakly.

“That stain is a remembrance of sin, the same is true as the scar tissue of one’s skin burned by fire brings to remembrance the inferno escaped, permitting a continuance of life now eternal. Do you understand?”   

Oh, how I loved early mornings like this – yes, even more than sleep.