Love Shines in the Darkness

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” -Romans 12:21

Berlin has experienced dark times. Few places on earth have seen the darkness reign as much as this place that our family now calls home. To be fair, this is not the Berlin of the 30’s and 40’s. Nor is it the city that was once divided in the most literal sense. But the darkness still lingers and sometimes it takes root.

Sometimes the desire to escape overwhelms us.

Sometimes we wonder why we are here, we question our calling.

And sometimes we just need a rest, a break from the intensity of Berlin.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”

Here, living in a place where there are gambling halls on nearly every corner, where there is this (something I cannot even to begin to describe), and where debauchery is the most celebrated form of art, it is comforting to know that the light is still stronger. It is good to know that evil has already been overcome, that death is defeated.

“there is nothing outside the a person that by going into him can defile him…” Mark 7:15a

Some of us shrink away from places like Berlin because we are afraid. Some are afraid of refugees. Some are afraid of the culture. And some are even afraid that the darkness will somehow corrupt them. Praise God that He has offered us His protection, that we need not fear death.

“but the things that come out of a person are what defile him” —Mark 7:15b

Though we can live among the sinners and the lost, we are not here to be like them in their sins. Not that we should be haughty. We are to live as those who were once sinners, but have been redeemed, and not of our own strength.

“But I do not account my life as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” — Acts 20:24

My friends the true corruption we can experience is to live in a way that is contrary to our calling. Whether we live in open defiance or in a subtle marginalization of His will matters not. What matters is following Jesus.

Love shines in the darkness because Jesus came, lived the perfect, sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again. He came to a dark world and shined the light, the same light His followers carry now. He is stronger, brighter, better, more creative, and much cooler than any dark art or spirit. And He already won, is winning, and will win once and for all. Jesus lives, and so can we.