Treasure in the Dark

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said.¹

Nineteenth century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned these words as part of his Christmas poem today known as “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Longfellow had seen his share of tragedy—his wife died in his arms after receiving severe burns in a fire. Meanwhile, Longfellow’s son was fighting in the Civil War. So, on Christmas morning when the church bells rang out, Longfellow, a staunch pacifist, wondered where the promised peace on earth had gone. 

Perhaps you find yourself echoing Longfellow’s sentiment this Christmas season. Peace? On this earth? Not a chance. 

Instead, darkness.

Skyrocketing rates of depression and mental illness.

War.

Natural disaster.

Death.

All of these we have in abundance. Indeed, we can feel the weight of our descent into darkness. 

Descent into Darkness

While I don’t want to spend too much time meditating on the darkness, I do want to consider the serious situation in which we find ourselves. It didn’t just happen, nor should it take us by surprise. Paul gives a clear blueprint for this descent in the opening chapter of his letter to the church at Rome. 

Suppressed Truth 

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18)

First, Paul tells us that the problem with darkness is not that people don’t know the truth. In fact, from the creation of the world, the attributes, power, and nature of God have been on display through all He has made. 

God’s infinity can be seen in the measurelessness of the universe. We behold His holiness with every fresh snowfall and His power in every hurricane. We witness His wisdom with every new discovery about the human body and His faithfulness every time the snow melts and the trees bud in the spring. Paul says that all this adds up to one thing: We are “without excuse” (Rom. 1:20). 

The problem is not a lack of revelation. The problem is that humanity has suppressed the truth, trying to stuff it back in its can and pretend like it was never there. Perhaps this is why so many consider our society to be “post truth.” 

Intentional Denial 

For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God. (Romans 1:21)

As humankind has suppressed the truth, it has simultaneously done its best to deny God altogether. While it’s not unusual for people to believe in some sort of “god” or “higher power” or “spiritual life force,” these concepts are usually deities of man’s own making. They’re not founded on the revelation of the Creator-God of the Bible. Nope . . . Him they deny. 

Worthless Thinking 

Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21)

What’s the inevitable result of suppressing the truth and denying the existence of God? Worthless thinking, that’s what. Of course, this is nothing new. Smart people have been coming up with foolish philosophies for centuries. However, in the era of algorithms, social media, and influencer culture, worthless thinking has never been so easily disseminated. With the push of a button, people can share their “futile speculations” with the world; and without discerning minds to help filter the worthless from the worthwhile, empty philosophies will only continue to take people captive. 

Costly Exchanges

Worthless thinking doesn’t merely stay theoretical; it motivates people to action. Paul lists a series of exchanges that this useless rhetoric leads the masses to make. But these swaps all boil down to the same thing: exchanging the glory of God for a mere image: 

[They] exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. (Romans 1:23)

This would be like handing over tickets to Disney World in exchange for some brochures about the theme park. Those brochures were never meant to be the destination—they were meant to point people to the “glory” of the “happiest place on earth” and get people to go there. Likewise, creation was intended to point us to the Creator. However, unlike swapping out Disney World tickets, the consequences of exchanging the glory of God for an image are nothing short of catastrophic. 

Dire Penalties 

The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. (Romans 1:27)

Paul doesn’t go into detail regarding exactly what these penalties are. However, it’s no secret that embracing the foolish thinking of our day and exchanging the truth about God for a lie has not only spiritual but physical ramifications. From sexually transmitted diseases to depression, anxiety, and even suicide, humanity does not make these decisions without reaping a costly, painful, and even tragic harvest. Sadly, most of us know this from experience—either our own or a loved one’s. The heartbreaking effects of sin show no partiality.

Finally—Some Good News

Are you depressed yet? No doubt you’re resonating with Longfellow’s assessment of the world right about now. But, in the words of the great Lion of Narnia, “Take courage, dear heart.” The darkness is undeniably real and ugly—but it’s not ultimate. This Christmas, let me invite you to rest in one little verse in the opening chapter of John’s Gospel: 

That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:5)

The Apostle John sets up his Gospel by giving us two primary word pictures of who Jesus is. First, He’s the Word—the very Word of God—and, more specifically, God Himself. Secondly, He’s the Light shining in the darkness. And after what we just saw from the book of Romans, we are in desperate need of some light. But the next part of the verse is even better. The darkness did not—will not—overcome it. 

Read that again. 

“The darkness did not overcome it.” 

And it never will. 

For assurance that’s true, read the most hopeful verse in all of Romans 1: 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

The power to speak the world into existence out of nothing, the power to speak light into darkness, the power to split the Red Sea in half, to feed five thousand people with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, the power to bring the crucified Savior back to life, never to see death again—ever. This power guarantees that the darkness will not win.

This Christmas season, don’t despair that the darkness seems to be winning. Rejoice in the fact that the Light has come—and the darkness will never—ever!—overcome it.

¹ Lyrics from “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.