Why Darkness?

A generation ago, audiences around the world were enthralled by the Star Wars Trilogy, an epic story about the struggle between good and evil. The colorful, memorable characters were either on the side of the "force" representing good or the "dark side" representing evil. One could envision a number of obvious analogies in this tale and it made for exciting entertainment.

But, why darkness? It seems that many people are fascinated by, and even drawn to, the "dark side."

Do you doubt this attraction? Then look about you at the current entertainment scene. Movies that feature vampires, other ghoulish characters and macabre stories are very big at the box office. They generate tens of millions of dollars (or euros, pounds or yen) in revenue for the producers of these dark stories of the horror genre. Audiences can't seem to get enough of them and the more bizarre or weird the story and the more graphic the blood and gore—with some sexual references or innuendo—the more popular they seem to be.

At this time of year, as the daylight portion of the day becomes shorter and the leaves begin to fall, an ancient tradition with roots in paganism seems to gain in popularity with every passing year. Halloween, adapted from All Saints Eve, with all of the dark and foreboding trappings associated with this bizarre holiday, is celebrated by children and adults.

Activities that perpetuate false ideas about the afterlife and the spirit world are very popular. It's interesting that most of what is associated with this observance is done at night. There is certainly no biblical basis for this observance, although there are a number of scriptures that clearly forbid it.

One example is found in Deuteronomy 18:10, where it states: "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord."

It's pretty plain that such activities are not pleasing to God.

But, why darkness? Again, the bible makes it plain. The Apostle John recorded the words of Jesus when he wrote, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). The wise writer of Proverbs put it this way, "The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble" (Proverbs 4:19).

It is obvious that the "wicked one" (1 John 5:19) has kept this world in darkness to try to accomplish his perverted plan to keep mankind out of the Kingdom of God. Will he succeed in his diabolical plot? Absolutely not!

The Apostle Paul wrote to those early converts to Christianity in the church at Ephesus about coming out of darkness: "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:8–11).

Jesus Christ came to bring the light and those that are called now can escape the dark side and live in His marvelous light, free from the pagan traditions and practices of this age.

Many of our publications shed light on these important biblical subjects and they are available to you free of charge. I recommend one booklet in particular as you consider the subject of spiritual darkness. Send for our booklet entitled, Satan's Counterfeit Christianity. You can read it online, download it or order a printed copy directly from this Web site.

May the force—"the light"—be with you.