They said, “Rabbi, you can’t do that. The Jews are out to kill you, and you’re going back?” Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in daylight doesn’t stumble because there’s plenty of light from the sun. Walking at night, he might very well stumble because he can’t see where he’s going.”
John 11:8-10 (The Message)
When Jesus got the word that Lazarus was sick, He didn’t rush off in panic. He stayed where he was a couple more days. His disciples, however, were nervous. They knew the danger of going back toward Judea… Jesus had enemies there who wanted Him dead. They were worried for Him and probably for themselves too.
That’s when Jesus gave this strange but powerful response: “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime won’t stumble because there’s plenty of light from the sun. Walking at night, he might very well stumble because he can’t see where he’s going.”
On the surface, it seems Jesus is talking about the difference between traveling during the day and stumbling around in the dark. But I think Jesus was pointing to something deeper. His time on earth was given to Him by the Father, and nothing – not threats, not enemies – could cut that time short until His work was finished. While there was still “daylight,” He had work to do, and He wasn’t about to waste a moment of it.
That’s a good word for us too. Our lives aren’t accidents… God has numbered our days. Nothing can shorten them apart from His will. But our time here is limited, and we don’t know how long our “daylight” will last. That’s why we can’t afford to drift or waste our days.
So let me ask you: How are you spending your time? Are you using your words to build up the people around you? Are you speaking life into them? Are you investing in things that last, not just things that fade away? Are you living with heaven in mind, or just getting by down here?
Hebrews reminds us, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end” (Hebrews 3:13-14).
We don’t know how much daylight we have left, but we know this much: Today is still called “today.” That means there’s still work to do, still people to love, still encouragement to give, still more time to follow Christ and share Him with others.
So while there’s still daylight, let’s walk in it.
Former Blackout Artist 