In regeneration man is drawn out of darkness into marvellous light. He receives enlightened eyes of the understanding and perceives invisible realities. Those matters, which are hidden for the natural man and viewed from a natural perspective, are viewed in an entirely different manner by the person who has been illuminated. He who was darkness itself becomes enlightened in the Lord, and the Holy Spirit shines in his heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This light gladdens the heart, warms the soul, causes it to burn with love, and changes and sanctifies the entire man. Therefore, they who begin to see this light become so enamored with it that they desire to be led further and further into this light. Indeed, in doing so they do not take note of the distinction between the light of beholding (which may and must be desired here below, but is reserved for heaven), and the light of faith, which is bestowed upon those who walk upon earth, enabling them to make their way through darkness with joy. By not considering this distinction, they are not satisfied to walk in the light of faith, but wish to live here in the light of beholding. They thus bring trouble upon their soul and begin to think that they are yet entirely in the dark and unconverted. Yes, this can cause great darkness to come upon them, so that even the light of faith becomes so dim that they cannot perceive any light.
This spiritual darkness is not identical to what the unconverted have, who are yet entirely blind. This also does not compare to what beginners in grace experience, in whom there is a glimmer of light. We also do not understand by this the waves of darkness which occasionally come upon a believer and readily dissipate.
Spiritual Darkness: The Spiritual Disease of a Christian
This darkness is, however, a spiritual disease of a person who has made some progress in the Christian life. In the absence of the normal illuminating influences of the Holy Spirit, and due to the residual darkness of his old nature, the light which is in him becomes so dim and is so obscured that he now beholds the spiritual matters, which he previously perceived with clarity, as a distant glimmer and only depicts what has transpired in the past by way of memory. This causes him to be without joy, warmth, and direction; and to live in fear and anxiety, causing him to wander about aimlessly, as in a desert.
Not only does experience teach that the believer does come into such darkness (so that many do not need any other proof except their own case), but the Word of God shows us abundantly that this is so. Those who are in such a condition need to take note of that, since they generally come to the conclusion that they are without grace, being of the opinion that the godly do not come into such a condition. That which befell Abraham, the father of the faithful, also befalls his children. “And, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him” (Gen 15:12). Job testifies of this concerning himself: “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: on the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him” (Job 23:8-9). The church complains of this: “He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light” (Lam 3:2). The Lord threatens this: “Give glory to the Lord your God, before He cause darkness” (Jer 13:16). The prophet gives counsel to those who are in such a state: “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God” (Isa 50:10). There are seasons of darkness as a result of persecution and the absence of comfort, as well as due to blindness. However, these generally coexist in God’s children, for external darkness does bring forth internal darkness.
The Causes of Spiritual Darkness
Natural vision can be obstructed by various causes: the disappearance of the sun, the thickening of clouds, the interference of opaque objects, disease of the eyes, or staring at the sun. Spiritual darkness likewise has various causes:
(1) the disappearance of the Sun of Righteousness, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the withholding of the illuminating influence of the Holy Spirit;
(2) the devil obscuring this light by clouding the issues, generating the smoke of error and heresy, generating false light, obscuring the truth, and seducing a person by way of deceivers;
(3) a person not giving heed to the light of faith, considering this to be too insignificant; a weakening of love for the truth, a striving for something higher; an insisting on being illuminated by the light of beholding, and by being desirous of receiving light other than that light by which the Lord commonly leads his people;
(4) the turning away of our eyes from the light by yielding to our lusts, by closing our eyes, and by strewing sand in our eyes—whereby the truth in her efficacy and preciousness is not perceived;
(5) exerting our spiritual vision too much to comprehend the perfections and incomprehensible ways of God. This, rather than yielding us more light, will bring us into more darkness. For when we depart from the light of God’s Word and cannot attain to an immediate beholding, our corrupt intellect and irrational reason1 will come to the foreground, deceiving the soul with false contemplations whereby true light is increasingly obscured.