Light of Faith and Darkness of Sin

There comes a time when the strongest warrior feels weak; the powerful, helpless; the loved, alone. A moment of weakness, of confusion, when one must ask if continuing is worth the price. At that moment, there is a crossroads, a choice that, once made, can never be changed back. All heroes and villains reach this point: but all beings regardless of importance have this choice, the defining moment. It makes each what they are, determines what they may yet become. For some, this choice is straightforward: they follow their ideals, standards, what they grew up with…but it is not that simple for some.

Choosing between the light of faith and darkness of sin is no easy matter.

An observer might exclaim, "Of course, this is a simple choice! One must always do the right thing and choose good over evil, the right over the wrong." Those who can say that with such easy conviction never have been faced with the type of choice where neither option is good, where the next step will cause great pain, no matter what direction that step takes. Such observers cannot understand fully. They have never faced down the power of the night. Neither do they see just how vague the line between light and darkness can be, nor how the turning point can be obscured by shadow, nor just how terrifyingly easy that first step into infinite night can be. They cannot see how it can be so easy to stray off the right path into a thorny thicket of transgression.

But I know. I have been there and seen others in that place: frozen in time, one sees myriad possibilities of the future spread out like a winding road. I have seen both the mighty strength of the light and the seductive powers of the darkness. I once stood at the edge of a precipice, where the heroes are formed and the villains created. I saw clearly, far too clearly, the consequences of my choice to stand firm. Losing friends, gaining enemies, being rejected, being persecuted, being hated: all are consequences of being a light in a dark world. In the end, I did choose to be a light rather than a darkness. But for a deep and painful moment, I contemplated the darkness of sin.

Would it truly be so terrible to leave the light? Would joining the darkened world be so wrong?

I was tempted, sorely tempted to give in, yet something deeper than myself stopped me. I could not forget my Creator, the love of Him who shaped me. The choice to stand firm in the light of faith was a difficult one, and it is still difficult to hold fast when the darkness of my sinful human nature vies for dominance. Despite the New Man within me, the Old Adam tries to gain control and succeeds more often than I would like, reminding me of how enjoyable sin can be. Even with the Gospel’s light, a remnant of my former condition remains and forces the decision upon me.

Do I make the right choice in clinging to my faith and rejecting this world, you may ask. Would I choose differently given a second chance?

No. My allegiance is to the God who formed me, to the light alone and no other. And so I hold on to the certain hope of eternal life and serve as best I can in the ashes of my quiet defiance, always knowing and clinging to a simple fact: good shall prevail. Light always has overcome in the end and always will, to the end of time and throughout eternity. It can be no other way: this is how the universe was ordered, at the very dawn of time by the One in whom there is no darkness at all.

The darkness is powerful, that is for certain. Sin is not to be trifled with, nor is the father of lies one to be underestimated. Though the forces of evil seem invincible, beyond my weak, mortal power to defeat, I remember one thing when I face the darkened world’s power: God is with me. I have nothing to fear with the Bright and Morning Star on my side. My dim, reflected light can drive away even the deepest darkness of this benighted world. As a redeemed, lightened child of God, I have the ability to fight this battle and win.

I can stand firm in the light of faith through God’s light.

A/N: Revised form of "Choosing" submitted for my English class.