Afraid of The Light?

Plato once said, "It is easy to forgive a small child afraid of the dark, but not a full-grown man afraid of the light." Since long before Plato light has symbolized truth--facing the reality of our situation in relation to God, to others, and to self.

Why are people afraid of the light?

Some love evil and hate goodness. Some fear they are being deceived. Some know learning the truth will make great demands on their time, money, and energy. Some just hate change.

Despite all these fears, people still come into the light because of what they fear even more: the darkness. Darkness makes us stumble, fall, and get hurt. It fills us with confusion and brings us despair. Even a little light is better than a deep and profound darkness. I know what I'm talking about. I've been in the middle of a large office building when the power went out. The first emotion that hit my brain was the panic of helplessness.

If you are a Christian, you can say with the psalmist, "The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps. 27:1)

Love and seek the truth, about God, about others, and about yourself. If we appreciate the light, we won't be afraid of it. Just like it dispels the shadows, it quickly chases away all of our fears.

Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.

Go to his DeeperStudy.org for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."

MORE RESOURCES:

Â» Inspirational drama anything but #39;Broken#39; - Chicago Daily Herald

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John Lewis hails #39;inspirational#39; sales effort - Times Online

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article5485105.ececid=1291345319ei=VeJnSfafNt3EmQe3zfTVDAusg=AFQjCNEF2P5rePLTtWrsZRYmoT4t9up58QJohn Lewis hails #39;binspirational/b#39; sales effort/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTimes Online,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1John Lewis emphasised that the sales figures were inflated by calendar effects but hailed a â€œtruly binspirational/bâ€ performance. Sales of electricals and home b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Local Sports Hero to Share Inspirational Story at Business Club of ... - PR.com (press release)

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://www.pr.com/press-release/125272cid=0ei=VeJnSfafNt3EmQe3zfTVDAusg=AFQjCNE_SW_vvUIJ7fWI0IyWtJaME5sw4wLocal Sports Hero to Share bInspirational/b Story at Business Club of b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR.com (press release),nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr15 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Raleigh, NC, January 09, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Logan Aldridge, a top national wakeboarder from Raleigh, will share his binspirational/b story at the Business Club b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Gerard Lucien Gaudreau, inspirational speaker - Baltimore Sun

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Tyler Thompson, inspirational JCJC student, dies - Laurel Leader Call

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.leadercall.com/local/local_story_007111014.htmlcid=1290691744ei=VeJnSfafNt3EmQe3zfTVDAusg=AFQjCNFGtAq5y-n2Ih2BQprBmEl1YasGaQTyler Thompson, binspirational/b JCJC student, dies/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLaurel Leader Call,nbsp;MSnbsp;-/font nobrJan 7, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Jason Niblett, newseditor@laurelleadercall.com A Jones County Junior College student who symbolically became an inspiration during the 2008 Jones County b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Dr. Phil: Movie critic? - Los Angeles Times

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Inspirational Deborah Riedel soprano dies of cancer aged 50 - The Australian

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24889996-16947,00.htmlcid=0ei=VeJnSfafNt3EmQe3zfTVDAusg=AFQjCNGMnZU4ISLGERyeKyXkf8umAB8MqQbInspirational/b Deborah Riedel soprano dies of cancer aged 50/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Australian,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobrJan 8, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Matthews described Riedel as an binspirational/b singer. Riedel grew up in Sydney and was a schoolteacher before successfully auditioning for a place in the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational coach sharing her experiences with local girls - Chinook Observer (subscription)

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-0fd=Rurl=http://www.chinookobserver.info/main.asp%3FSectionID%3D3%26SubSectionID%3D14%26TM%3D34244.65cid=0ei=VeJnSfafNt3EmQe3zfTVDAusg=AFQjCNEawxl4TVU-JAGs5HCWwPGLSMelfgbInspirational/b coach sharing her experiences with local girls/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fChinook Observer (subscription),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrJan 8, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1ILWACO â€” On June 11 from 10 am to 3 pm, girls in grades sixth through 12th have a rare opportunity to spend a day with an binspirational/b leader of young b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Rudy Nutrition Mutually Agrees to Terminate Merger into Marshall ... - Business Wire (press release)

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20090109005344/encid=1291430744ei=VeJnSfafNt3EmQe3zfTVDAusg=AFQjCNHVVxcmVeufuGvM5MKdL2iNJZ5HbQRudy Nutrition Mutually Agrees to Terminate Merger into Marshall b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusiness Wire (press release),nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1â€œRudyâ€ was recently named the 54 th greatest binspirational/b movie of all-time by the American Film Institute. Rudy Nutrition is focused on creating, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

No work of art, but Flames get job done - Calgary Herald

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Inspirational - Google News

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