On March 31, 1880, it was decreed that Wabash, Indiana, was the first town in the United States of America to be completely illuminated by electricity. Just think of the difference electricity made in the lives of the residents. No more did evening activities, like reading, or darning have to be done by the weak light of candles and oil lamps. No longer did you have to keep a large inventory of candles and oil in your home. With just the push of a button or the flick of a switch, lamps in a room would light up with light bright enough to dispel the darkness. You had light enough to easily see what you were doing. For those people, their lives were forever changed by electricity.
As a nation, we have lit our homes with electricity for over 143 years. We who are living now most likely have never lived without electric light. We are active and do things 24 hours a day. You might think that by conquering the dark, the world would be a perfect place to live, but it is not, is it? There is still a lot of darkness that we have to contend with. Our darkest places are found in fear, hatred and hostility. How do we bring light into those places? The answer is Jesus. Jesus is the light that dispels the darkness. By having a relationship with Jesus, we can let go of any fear, hatred or hostility that live within us. Once we are in a relationship with Jesus, we have the ability to bring Christ’s light into our homes, our workplaces and our neighborhoods. Each good word we say… each good deed we do …chases away the darkness and ushers in the light. Forever change your life by living with the Light of the World, Jesus. Let us together dispel the darkness of our world by living in the light of, our Lord and Savior.
Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
The Rev. Karen Dumey is the pastor of Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church in Sikeston.