Defeating the Darkness in You

We see a lot of darkness around us during Halloween—death, skeletons, ghouls, and goblins. Those are scary indeed, but what about the darkness inside you? That is usually much scarier. Learn the secrets to defeating the darkness, not in the world, but in yourself.

Transcript

INTRO

Many of us know that the dark can be scary–because we can’t see anything, but we sure believe all kinds of creepy, horrible, and dangerous monsters are lurking in the dark. However, we can turn on the light and defeat the darkness by letting the bright light show us that there’s nothing scary there at all! But what if the darkness is in our minds? In our thinking? Or in the things we believe, which are scary and dangerous?

For example, when you’ve done something that you weren’t supposed to do, how do you feel? And what do you do? I usually feel bad about myself and then try to hide from my sister, parents, and from God. When I was in second grade, we were getting ready for church and I ran outside, tripped and fell, and scraped my knee. My knee was all bloody. I thought my parents were going to be upset with me, so when they asked me what happened I blamed my sister. I told my parents that my sister pushed me down the steps. I knew it was a lie and I avoided my sister and my parents.

THE ISSUES WITH LIES

In the story we just heard about the father and his two sons we learned that the younger son wanted his dad to give him money, leave his dad so he could go do whatever he wanted, and then spent all the money he had on fun and friends. Then when he was lonely and hungry, he felt worthless. While sitting with the pigs, he felt sorry for himself. But, he also started to think clearly again and remembered life with his dad. Life was really good. So, he got up and decided to return to his dad. And here was his plan: the son was going to return to his dad’s house, not as a son, but as a servant! The young son thought this was the best option because he believed that what he did was so bad he couldn’t be a son anymore.

When we believe lies, we start to see God differently and live in fear. We become afraid of what we did, what we saw, what we heard. Then we tell ourselves, “I did something really bad, that was SO bad, God saw what I did and He’s mad at me. God can’t forgive me.” He’s going to punish me. We become scared of God and stay far away from God. Right after the son has his idea, he decides to practice what he would say to his dad, like a little pep-talk. “Okay, when I see him, I’m going to walk straight up to him and say…dad, I know what I did broke God’s heart and broke your heart too. I don’t deserve to be your son, make me your servant.”

You see, when we believe lies, we forget who we are. We start to believe: I’m a bad person, No one can love me now, I don’t deserve good things, nobody wants me in the family. But that’s NOT true! When the younger son returns to his dad’s house what happens? The father was watching for his son, the dad saw his son from far away, ran towards him, and hugged and kissed him!

THE SOLUTION: TURN BACK TO THE TRUTH

Friends, when we are stuck in a lie, we have to turn back to the truth. The truth of who God is. He is our creator and father. He loves us no matter what we have done. He forgives us and sent his son, Jesus, to die to pay for our sin. He wants to be with us today and forever and ever. When we are stuck in a lie, we have to turn back to the truth. The truth of who we are. We are precious. We are priceless. We are loved beyond measure.

When the father hugs his son, the first thing that comes out of the young son’s mouth is what he practiced. Dad, I know what I did broke God’s heart and broke your heart. I don’t deserve to be your son, make me your servant.

And what does his dad say? “Servants! Bring the best clothes, a shiny ring, sandals for his feet! Let’s kill the biggest cow, eat some steak, and celebrate!” And then he says,

“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate.”

You see, the father never blames the younger son, or shames him. Because the dad has compassion on his son! Compassion means to have a soft and gentle heart!

CONCLUSION

In this story, the younger son is all of us! And the dad is God! Lies will come…they are monsters that grow bigger and bigger in the dark; they terrify, terrorize, imprison, and trample us. When we are in the dark, it’s scary and lonely. How will we escape the darkness and the lying monsters? What can we do when we get stuck in the dark? We have to do what the younger son did. Get up and go back to the Father! God our Father will run to us, hug us, and remind us who we really are: his most loved child!