1 John 2:7-14

1 John 2:7-14 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 We all need glimpses of hope -- to lose hope is to struggle with the darkness.  This is why depression is such a cruel and debilitation disease.  It eats away at hope, and it prevents people from seeing and grasping the hope that does exist in the world.  To emerge from the darkness requires long and faithful friendship that continues to point to the light.
  The letter here is reminding us that the darkness is passing away.  It's not gone -- the shadows still linger and stab at us from the darkness.  But the true light is already shining -- it has burst forth from the empty tomb and shines forth in the world.  We know the truth, and when we choose to follow Christ, to take up the great adventure and seek to be faithful at all times, loving our enemies and dying to the self, we live in this same light.  When we do the opposite, we retreat back into the darkness, and find ourselves blinded by the darkness -- sin and hate are vicious cycles that cover our eyes and keep us from seeing the blinding beauty of the light.  It's like walking into a cave and continuing to stare into the darkness, enticed by what might lie in the murky depths, rather than realizing that the true adventure, true goodness, lies outside, and what is required is turning from the darkness and recognizing the glory of the light.