On Today's Internet "Blackout"

Today is an interesting time for this “information generation.” If you are not aware, major internet sites, such as Google and Wikipedia, are protesting a bill in Congress that would radically change the way information is shared on the World Wide Web. They are protesting this bill in something they are calling a “blackout,” though each site is going about it differently. For example, if you try to search a topic on the Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia, this is the message you will receive: “For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia.” If you were to go to Google, you will find that their daily “Google Doodle” is simply their logo covered with a black box. Other internet sites are getting in on this protest by essentially “occupying themselves,” in hopes of motivating users to contact their local Representatives and informing them of their opposition to this proposed legislation.

There is no doubt that people will be inconvenienced by today’s blackout. That is the intent. This blackout got me thinking, however (imagine that). It brought to mind an inspiring passage from the Apostle Paul as recorded in 2 Corinthians 4.6: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” This verse tells us that even when we are confronted with darkness – whether it is in trying to search on Wikipedia or facing a crisis in life – it is God who allows light to shine in spite of that darkness! That light, my friends, is the knowledge of God’s saving love in Jesus Christ!

The first thing that the Bible records God saying is, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1.3). One of the first things that John tells us in the New Testament is that Jesus is the light of life (John 1.4). Acknowledging that God’s light – Jesus – has the ability to shine out of any darkness is the first step to a brighter and more meaningful reality. You might think that the problems you are facing at home, at work, or wherever are creating an impenetrable darkness, but Scripture is clear, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (John 1.5b).

If you are facing an area of darkness in your life, turn to God and allow Him to shine His eternal light onto and into the situation…there is no such thing as something that is too dark for God! Sure you might have a hard time learning about it today on Wikipedia, but the time will come when even that will go dark forever. You can rest assured, however, in the knowledge that God is eternal and His light shines perpetually. Allow Jesus, God’s eternal light, to shine in your life today. It will change you forever!


Have a great rest of the week!
Pastor Mark