Pilgrims in the Dark


Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.--Isa. 50: 11.

The imagery the prophet employs here gives us a sad and tragic picture of those who seek light and warmth and comfort at any fire they kindle for themselves, ignoring God who is the light as well as the life of men.

This is a dark world--made dark by ignorance, sin, trouble and sorrow, and mysteries too deep for the human mind to fathom. Where is the man who can make his journey through this world with no light save that which he may kindle for himself? Where is the man who, by the light of his own reason merely, can make his way unerringly and safely through this world shrouded in darkness, mystery, and evil?

Men try to free themselves from the miseries of their condition, from the darkness of ignorance, sin, and sorrow. Some turn to psychiatry, some to the philosophy of humanism, some to diversion and amusement. But how transient the relief they find, how bitter and black the disappointment at last. With no light but their own reason and that of human philosophies, men, sooner or later, are left to “lie down in sorrow”--they become a prey to all sorts of dark passions and gloomy thoughts, and in the end the victims of utter despair.

In this dark world we have to look to God for light. “The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness” (Ps. 18: 28). God enlightens our ignorance--“blots out our transgressions as a thick cloud” (Isa. 44: 22)--gives us “Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isa. 61: 3)--makes us “the children of light and the children of the day” (I Thess. 5:5).

“In Thy light shall we see light” (Ps. 36:9). They who see only by the light of the carnal mind, grope in perplexity, uncertain of life’s meaning and end; but they who see by the light of God, see the truth, and walk therein with certitude and abounding joy. Only let us make God our Sun, and life’s pilgrimage shall be made in the light of His presence, in the sunshine of His love.

Apart from God, all of us are pilgrims in the dark.