In the Bible darkness represents a number of different things:

• Evil ways: see Proverbs 4:19
• The absence of God’s presence: see 2 Peter 2:17; 1 John 1:5; Mk 15:33
• Spiritual blindness to the things of God: see Romans 1:21
• Times of suffering and hopelessness: see Psalm 107:10
• The kingdom of Satan: see Acts 26:18
• This world is also described as a dark place: see 2 Peter 1:19; Isaiah 60:2

BUT ... the wonderful news about Jesus Christ is that all these darknesses are defeated through Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection to new life!

• Jesus exposes evil ways by shining his light into this world and into our hearts: see John 8:12.
• It is Jesus who brings God’s presence near to us - in fact inside of us!: see 2 Corinthians 4:6.
• It is Jesus who takes away our blindness to the things of God.: see John 12:46.
• Jesus gives us strength to persevere through times of suffering while we live on this earth: see Ephesians 6:10, 12.
• Jesus has rescued us from the kingdom of Satan and will consign that evil kingdom to utter darkness (i.e. away from God’s presence) on the final day of judgement: see Colossians 1:13.
• Those who trust in Jesus will enter into the Father’s kingdom of light for ever: see Revelation 22:5.

Jesus has won the victory over all the powers and works of darkness due to Jesus. Therefore as it says in Ephesians 6:13-18 what we must do is to put on the armour of God, stand firm in the knowledge of the truth, and pray. The picture is of a soldier in a defensive position and the fortress is none other than Christ alone.