No Match for the Light

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

Albert Callaway was my neighbor on Park Avenue in Wheaton, Illinois. He was the only boy in the neighborhood, and although we were different on many fronts, he was my friend. I remember quite vividly talking to Albert about Jesus. We were young, very young, and my evangelism methodology was to invite the supernatural in an attempt to convince him of the truth of God’s Word… as I recall it went something like this… “Albert, if I throw this tennis ball over your house, and your house catches on fire, but it doesn’t in any way damage any property or injure your mother inside, will you believe in Jesus?” Wow, how compelling! The beautiful marriage of Old Testament experience and New Testament hope. (Have I just disqualified myself from being the President of Youth for Christ/USA?) Needless to say, I threw, and I adeptly fed Albert’s skepticism.

Over the years our paths separated and I lost touch with Albert… until Facebook. Just over a year ago Albert wrote to me… now Al. He filled in the years, the many years… and they were filled with amazing examples of God’s faithfulness and grace. He talked of his embrace of God’s Son, and the connection to a strong local church in the Chicago area. I was moved. Really moved.

Then last week Al sent me another Facebook message, this time about his son, Alex. In so many ways I know Alex, because he looks and sounds and experiences what so many young people do… he lived in darkness; a prisoner to a culture and lifestyle that he had embraced. His parents mourned, and worried, and prayed as Alex spent the equity in his soul… until, on the verge of stepping in front of a train in downtown Chicago… light broke through. Real light. A stranger with courage, with sensitivity, with hope engaged him, rescued him. And then Jesus.

Light came where darkness was dense. Hope obliterated despair. The message of Christ warred against the powers of evil, for Alex.

Darkness surrendered. It had no weapon, no answer, no chance against the Light, against God’s Son.

Al Callaway is a follower of Jesus. God’s grace did what no tennis ball could. And then Al ushered me to a front row seat to see God’s love extend to Alex… and I stand amazed at my Savior… once again.

Because darkness loses… to Light… to Jesus.