Lost Morals Are Like Wandering a Lightless Cave

by Carol McClain   @carol_mcclain

Have you ever toured a cave?

Last year, my family and I explored the Lost Sea in Speedwell, Tennessee. Lights strung along the path led us over ledges, around stalagmites, past underground streams. Deep into the cavern, the tour did what all cave tours do. They turned off the lights.

Darkness so deep surrounded us, we couldn’t see our proverbial hands in front of our faces. I tried to imagine my fingers moving. I saw phantom motion, nothing real. With no light, nothing was visible.

The guides told us if we lived in this pitch for too long we would lose our sight (more on that next week).

This darkness amazes. It also brings to mind a metaphor.

Morally, our society has used artificial light to explore the depths of mores. We wandered through the cave of morality and oohed and ahhed over the stalactites clinging to the roof. The colors of the crystal formations wowed us. We rambled deeper. Because of the security of electricity, which goes out regularly in Tennessee, we feel safe. However, when the world goes wrong, we’re blind and lost and will not be delivered.

Without guaranteed light, that doesn’t go out or dim, we don’t know where the edge of the ledge sits. We may trudge uphill only to discover we weren’t climbing to the surface, only heading up a hill. Without light, we lose direction. We become blind.

A Dark Cave Is Like Leaning to Our Own Understanding

  1. We think we know the direction our lives should go. However, without vision, topography can deceive us. We go where we believe we should and end up deeper into the abyss.
  2. We can’t see the danger in front of us. We feel safe because we’ve crossed the crevasse already. We don’t see the slope to the side or the rock hanging from the roof. Worse, we walk into a flooded cavern.
  3. We no longer have trusted guides. Leaning to our own understanding leads us astray. A pilot needs his attitude indicator to know if he’s flying level or heading into a nosedive. He can’t lean to his sight. If he does, the time will come when he will die.

(Jesus) was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God John 1: 9-13 (KJV).

Truth does not change. If it did, it wouldn’t be truth. Jesus, the only true light of the world, directs our paths. If we follow Him, we will never be lost.

 

2 Comments

  1. I love this post! Jesus is the light piercing the darkness. Even though our society is stumbling in the dark, those of us with Jesus in our lives can be guides to His light.

    • Carol McClain says:

      I love the idea of the dark cave. I read some interesting things from animals kept in darkness. They can’t discern what’s in front of them once there’s light. Thank you for your encouragement.

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