Sweeping Out the Dark

Bible Reading: John 1:1-13

Unika played with her baby brother while Mother helped Auntie in the village gardens.

“Unika!” said Mother. “We need another basket. Go home and bring another!”

The little girl ran through the African village until she came to the door of her family’s house. It was getting dark. Unika pushed the door open. With only one door and no windows, it was very dark inside.

Oh! she thought. I don’t like the dark! She saw the sweeping brush leaning against the wall. I know! I’ll sweep out the dark! She began to sweep very hard. “Get out, dark! Get out!” She looked inside again. It was darker. “Go away, dark!” she shouted.

“What are you doing?” asked Auntie, who was coming up the road with Mother.

“It was dark inside,” Unika replied. “I was trying to sweep out the dark.”

“Sweep out the dark! Ha, ha! She was trying to sweep out the dark.” Auntie laughed and laughed. Everyone came, and they all laughed. Unika crept behind Mother.

Mother took a small oil lamp and a box of matches. She carefully lit the lamp. “Come,” she said. She led Unika into the house, put the lamp on the table, and shut the door. “Now,” she said, “where is the dark?”

Unika looked around at the walls and up into the roof. “It’s gone!”

“Why did it go?”

The little girl smiled. “It had to go because you brought the light in.”

They were still laughing outside. “Mother, I’m stupid. They’re all laughing at me.”

“You are not stupid, Unika. Many people make the same mistake. They know they have darkness inside them, and they try to just sweep it away. But that won’t make the darkness go away. They need Jesus, the Light of the World.”

“Then the dark will have to go!” said Unika. “Mother, I know you have Jesus’ light in you. Will He give it to me too?”

Mother nodded. “He will come to anyone who trusts in Him and give them His light.”

So Unika asked Jesus to come shine His light in her heart, and He did.

When they went outside, people were still laughing, but Unika didn’t mind now. The Light of the World was in her. -Marion Turnbull

How About You?

Do you have the Light of the World in you? Or are you trying to sweep out the darkness yourself? Trying to get rid of the sin in your heart by doing good things is like trying to sweep the darkness out of a dark room—it won’t do anything! You need the light of Jesus. Trust Him as your Savior and He will fill you with His light.

Today’s Key Verse:
John 8:12 [Jesus] said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus is the Light of the World