Posted on by Margarita & Stace Crews

LOVED DARKNESS INSTEAD OF LIGHT / JOHN 3:19

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) John 3:19

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Choosing the Light: Understanding John 3:19 in a Dark World

In a world filled with shifting truths and cultural pressures, a sobering reality check is found in John 3:19: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

This verse cuts straight to the heart of the human condition. It reveals that the ultimate rejection of Christ isn’t just an intellectual disagreement—it is a matter of the heart’s affections.

The Pull of the Darkness

A defining characteristic of a life apart from Christ is a profound love for darkness. This doesn’t just mean hiding in the shadows; it means taking active pleasure in immoral behaviors—both our own and the behavior of those around us.

When people reject the Light, they become unconcerned with defying God’s standards of right, wrong, and absolute truth. Scripture warns us about this progression of the hardened heart across many eras:

  • Romans 1:18-32 outlines how suppressing the truth leads to a mind given over to degrading passions.
  • Philippians 3:19 speaks of those whose “glory is in their shame” and whose minds are set purely on earthly things.
  • 2 Timothy 3:2-5; 2 Peter 2:12-15 describe a contemporary-sounding landscape of people who are lovers of self, lovers of money, and completely enslaved to their own destructive desires.

In contemporary society, this love for darkness is often on open display. From media to cultural norms, activities that encourage lust and defy God’s design are celebrated and normalized.

The Identity of the Redeemed

Truly born-again believers stand in stark contrast to this mindset (John 3:16). Having been rescued from the kingdom of darkness, believers are given new affections and a new nature.

Instead of hiding from the Light, the redeemed run toward it:

  • They love what is right: Believers take genuine pleasure in doing what pleases God and rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6).
  • They hate wickedness: Following the example of Christ, who loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (Hebrews 1:9), believers develop a holy aversion to sin.
  • They feel godly sorrow: Rather than celebrating ungodly behavior, believers feel a deep sense of grief when they see society reject God’s standards (2 Peter 2:8).

The call for the Christian is clear: Psalms 97:10 commands, “You who love the Lord, hate evil!” (see also Proverbs 8:13 and Romans 12:9). We cannot love the Light while simultaneously entertaining, enjoying, or applauding the very darkness that crucified our Savior.

Examining Our Affections

Today, let us look inward. What do we expose our minds to? What do we tolerate, laugh at, or find entertainment in?

Living as children of the Light means allowing Christ to illuminate every corner of our hearts, trading the fleeting pleasures of darkness for the enduring joy of His presence.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for sending Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, to rescue us from the blindness of our own sin. Forgive us for the times we have flirted with the shadows or taken pleasure in things that grieve Your Holy Spirit. Give us a profound love for what is right, pure, and true.

Help us to hate wickedness just as You do, and grant us a heart of compassion and sorrow for a world that is lost in darkness. Guard our eyes, our minds, and our affections from the ungodly influences of our contemporary culture. Let Your Light shine brightly through us so that others may see our good works and give glory to You. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

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Bible Study Tools I Use

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD /JOHN 3:16
  2. JUST AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SNAKE / JOHN 3:14-15
  3. THE WIND … THE SPIRIT / JOHN 3:8
  4. BORN OF WATER / JOHN 3:5
  5. BORN AGAIN / JOHN 3:3
  6. TEMPLE / JOHN 2:19
  7. DROVE ALL FROM THE TEMPLE AREA / JOHN 2:15
  8. SIGNS / JOHN 2:11
  9. CHOICE WINE – HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK / JOHN 2:10
  10. WINE – THEY HAVE NO MORE WINE / JOHN 2:3
  11. YOU SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN / JOHN 1:51
  12. CEPHAS … PETER / JOHN 1:42
  13. THE FIRST THING ANDREW DID / JOHN 1:41
  14. THE TENTH HOUR /JOHN 1:39
  15. WILL BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / JOHN 1:33
  16. LAMB OF GOD / JOHN 1:29
  17. PHARISEES / JOHN 1:24
  18. GRACE AND TRUTH / JOHN 1:17
  19. THE WORD BECAME FLESH / JOHN 1:14
  20. BORN NOT OF … HUMAN DECISION / JOHN 1:13
  21. RECEIVED … BELIEVED / JOHN 1:12
  22. THE WORLD DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM / JOHN 1:10
  23. GIVES LIGHT TO EVERY MAN / JOHN 1:9
  24. HIS NAME WAS JOHN / JOHN 1:6
  25. LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS / JOHN 1:5
  26. LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN / JOHN 1:4
  27. WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING / JOHN 1:2
  28. THE WORD / JOHN 1:1
  29. CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace

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