When dealing with something difficult, all too often we are told to look towards the light at the end of the tunnel. But how did we get in the tunnel in the first place? If you ever got trapped in a really long, scary tunnel, why would you choose to go in another one when you know that it’s going to be just as scary?
Here’s the thing, I don’t think it works like that at all. Instead of thinking of the tunnel as the current hardship and the end-goal being the light at the end where everything is easier, I have an alternative viewpoint.
I like to think of all of life being the tunnel. Sure there may be the very end of life. When you finally find that end of struggle, pain, and sadness. When you can go “ahhhhhh” and exhale out all the bad. But that’s not what you want to be looking forward to during exam week, or a fight with a friend, etc.. I think that all along the tunnel are many light holes. As if there were different size holes all along the tunnel of life. Some let in more light, for longer periods of your walk through the tunnel. Other times its just a short blip of light. Peaking in ever so slightly.
Lets just be honest. We can enjoy life at times, but it always will be a struggle. If everything is great and you never have any issues, you are a liar. Or you look like this guy…
(a liar)
The tunnel doesn’t have to be so dark all of the time. The Lord can provide some light during the darkest parts of the tunnel. He is like our flashlight as we journey through the tunnel of life. Sometimes we forget we have a flashlight. How could you forget? That is a pretty good question. Hard to answer really because the truth is we do forget all the time, in real life (or you don’t know the Lord [or don’t have a flashlight], in that case the story is a little different, see below).
Those moments where we get long periods of light, from a huge light hole, are a serious blessing. For some reason we act like we deserve the light. When things are dark for awhile, we imagine there is more light eventually, we hope for it too. The more we are able to rely on the light sources we do have to get through the tunnel, the stronger we become. The more we grow and mature.
James 1:2-3
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.…
emphasis added
But what if you never reached the light? What if the life you live is headed toward a part of the tunnel that is a dead end? From here it looks like the end of the tunnel has a bright light. You get so excited knowing the time has finally come. But what you find when you get there is one last, awesome light hole, and then the tunnel curves sharply to the right and just ends. Darkness.
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life .”
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father [aka heaven, aka the end of the tunnel] except through me.
emphasis added
It’s very easy to obtain a flashlight. You see, if we really want to make the tunnel of life realistic, its as if there are flashlights throughout the entire tunnel. Almost so readily available that its hard not to trip over them. Why live life without it? Why travel through the tunnel relying solely on the chance that you may come across another light hole?
You don’t have to.
Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
It couldn't be any easier.
