Demons in the Dark

Dangers of Darkness

I want everybody to settle in, but don’t get too comfortable. I’m going to have someone in the back turn the lights off for me and I want to strike that balance where you’re not making a bunch of noise trying to get settled in the dark but also you’re not taking a mid-church nap. Everybody good? Alright, let’s kill the lights.

Now I’m not just trying to set a mood with this lighting. The image of light and darkness can be a really helpful image for us understanding the reality we live in. In the dark, it can be more difficult to see. The world can be more dangerous in the dark; for example, if I had instructed some of you to pinch your spouses when I cued in the message then the darkness in the room would make that more difficult to see coming and avoid. Not that I would do anything of the sort. In the dark, we can sometimes feel more anxious, worried, and jumpy - like if your pastor insinuated that someone might be pinching you when you aren’t expecting it, there’s going to be a little bit of tension while you’re in the dark. Darkness makes it easier to make mistakes, to go the wrong way, to miss important things, and to avoid dangers around us.

And that’s all just the physical realities of darkness. What about spiritual darkness? In a world of spiritual darkness, it is more difficult to see what is good, right, and holy. In a world of spiritual darkness, threats and temptations can be more difficult to see coming and avoid. In a world of spiritual darkness, we can sometimes feel more anxious, worried, and jumpy because of what might be out there waiting for us. A world of spiritual darkness makes it easier to make mistakes, to go the wrong way, to miss important things, and to avoid the spiritual dangers around us. And even worse, there are monsters in the dark, waiting for us.

And while we have to suffer this experience of spiritual darkness, there are those even further out where the light doesn’t reach who are under attack. They are suffering from the anguish of hopelessness, from the burden of guilt and sin, and from the profound conflict that comes from spiritual attacks. But it’s dark, these attacks and this suffering are rarely identified for what they are, and the people continue to suffer time and again.

This is not a hypothetical situation, this is reality. We live in a world covered in spiritual darkness and there are those out there suffering from the attacks of the evil one without even knowing it.

Symbols

That’s what John writes about in our reading from Revelation today. In how he describes the vision, there is some heavy symbolism that’s worth diving into.

There is a star that falls from heaven who is given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. This is Satan - the adversary who sets himself against God and against God’s people.

There is the smoke that rises from the bit that darkens the sun and the air. Of everything that is discussed in chapter 9, this is something that affects every part of creation. This smoke represents a spiritual darkness that we all suffer under - dulling our awareness of the things of God and limiting our ability to perceive and resist the works of Satan.

Then there are these monsters John describes - locusts with the power of scorpions that target people instead of plants, and horses with the heads of lions and tails of serpents that breathe out fire and sulfur. Those sealed as God’s people are protected from these demons, but the demons are permitted to cause pain and suffering in those who are not sealed. This spiritual suffering is temporary but it can be excruciating. People will be pushed to the limit of what they can bear.

And after all of this, it is tempting to think “how can these people not turn to the one who can protect them from all of this?” But they are mired in spiritual darkness, so they do not give up their idols or their sins.

Responding to Rock Bottom

But why? Why would God allow this to happen? What is the reason for all of that suffering and pain?

Have you ever met someone who is only capable of learning their lessons the hard way? The kid who only learned not to touch the stove after they’d been burned, the adult who had to hit rock bottom before they’d start making better life choices? In part that is why there is all of the pain and spiritual anguish, it is something intended to push people to God before they end up in hell - where the suffering and anguish is worse and it never ends. And there are different ways that people respond to suffering, different ways that people respond to hitting the bottom.

On the one hand, you admittedly have people who will double down on the things that led them down the road they’re on. There will be no repentance and they will continue to worship their idols and their demons. And we mourn for them and we pray for God to change their hearts.

But on the other hand, you have people who turn. Who experience the pain of spiritual attacks and who look around at the spiritual darkness that surrounds them and look for a light, look for a Savior. And we have a Savior who rejoices with those lost sheep, and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross grants them protection from the great adversary.

Light of the World

We’ve been in this dark room together, but something self-defeating about the dark is that it makes it that much easier to see the light. When a light is turned on, you can see it from further away. And the closer you get to the light, the more it keeps the darkness (and everything that comes with it) at bay. We draw closer to Jesus Christ, the light of the world, and the darkness of Satan and the spiritual suffering that his servants bring cannot reach us.

How are you really doing?

And that safety and confidence enables us to keep an eye out for those who are looking for a light. To keep an eye out for people who have experienced the depths of spiritual darkness and the suffering of their spirits, who have turned and are desperately seeking the light. But to know that’s where people are at, we have to take the time. I want to challenge you to go out this week and to see how the people in your life are doing - how they’re really doing. Don’t be satisfied with the “how are you doing,” “fine, and you,” “fine” dialogue that is so common for us. Take the time to push, to see how they’re really doing, and to point them to the light. Amen.