From Darkness to Light: Embracing Jesus as King

Life is full of moments that feel like “jump points”—those times when everything changes in an instant, and you find yourself in a new place, sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance. Looking back, I see how God used one of those moments to rescue me from a life of darkness and bring me into the light. My story began in a religious home, but for years, faith was just a ritual, something done out of obligation and fear, not relationship. I searched for meaning in all the wrong places—through meditation, drugs, and reckless living—only to find myself more lost than ever.

But God, in His mercy, orchestrated a series of events that led me to a Bible study where, for the first time, I heard that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. That truth pierced through my confusion and pride. I realized I’d been driving the car of my life blindfolded, making a wreck of things. That night, I surrendered and asked Jesus to be the King of my life. From that moment, everything began to change—not because I became perfect, but because I was no longer alone in the darkness. Jesus, the true King, took the wheel.

Over the past fifty years, I’ve learned that Jesus is not just a spiritual “insurance policy” for the afterlife. He is the anointed King who wants to lead us now, transferring us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. When we walk in His light, we begin to see ourselves and our world differently. We recognize that many of our struggles are spiritual at their root, and that real transformation comes not from self-help or willpower, but from letting God’s Word soak into our hearts and minds.

Walking in the light means making better decisions, experiencing less fear and anxiety, and discovering that God’s plans for us are far greater than anything we could imagine. Even when we stumble, the King is faithful to forgive, restore, and guide us back onto the right path. My life is living proof that God can do immeasurably more than we dare to ask or imagine. If you’re still in the darkness, I encourage you: let Jesus be your King. He is faithful to rescue, forgive, and lead you into the light.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus is not just a helper or a spiritual “function”—He is the anointed King who desires to rule in our lives now, not just secure our eternity. Treating Him as an “insurance policy” misses the richness of a daily relationship with the King who wants to guide, correct, and bless us in the present. Recognizing His kingship transforms our priorities and our sense of purpose. [39:44]
• 2. Many of the deepest struggles we face are spiritual in nature, not merely circumstantial or mechanical. Issues like pride, addiction, or repeated relational failures often have roots that only the light of Christ can expose and heal. True change begins when we allow God’s Word to address these spiritual problems, rather than just treating symptoms. [45:18]
• 3. The way Jesus modeled overcoming temptation—by relying on the truth of Scripture—remains the most effective strategy for us today. Memorizing and meditating on specific verses that speak to our struggles allows God’s truth to reshape our hearts and responses. This is not a quick fix, but a process of soaking in the Word until it becomes part of us, enabling real transformation. [46:43]
• 4. Walking in the light brings clarity, leading to better decisions and less anxiety. When we let Jesus “drive the car,” we see situations more clearly and are less likely to repeat destructive patterns. The peace He gives is unlike anything the world can offer, freeing us from fear and worry even in uncertain times. [57:02]
• 5. God’s plans for us are far greater than we can imagine, and His faithfulness is proven not by our perfection, but by His ability to redeem and restore. Even when we have made a mess of our lives, surrendering to Jesus as King opens the door to a future filled with hope, purpose, and blessings beyond what we could ever ask or dream. [59:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [22:35] - Introduction and Call & Response
• [26:48] - The Epcot Roller Coaster Story
• [28:45] - The Zone of Refuge
• [29:34] - Growing Up Religious but Lost
• [31:34] - The Lost Years and Kalamazoo
• [32:30] - Life at the Paper Mill
• [33:47] - The TV Evangelist and a Turning Point
• [36:05] - First Bible Study and 1 John
• [37:03] - Surrendering to Jesus on Lake Doster Road
• [39:44] - Jesus as King, Not Just Savior
• [45:18] - Spiritual Problems and Judging Rightly
• [46:43] - Overcoming with Scripture
• [48:36] - The Power of Memorizing God’s Word
• [50:40] - Spiritual Conversations and Sharing Faith
• [52:21] - Walking in the Light: Seeing and Deciding
• [54:01] - Making Decisions in the Light
• [57:02] - Freedom from Fear and Anxiety
• [59:44] - God’s Perfect Plan and Immeasurable Faithfulness
• [61:54] - Artifacts and Testimony
• [62:40] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) — > This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Colossians 1:12-14 (ESV) — > Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

John 14:27 (ESV) — > Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 John 1:5, what is the nature of God, and what does it mean that “in him is no darkness at all”?
2. In Colossians 1:13, what does Paul say God has done for believers, and what does it mean to be “transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of his beloved Son”?
3. In the sermon, what did the speaker realize about his own life after hearing that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”? [[36:05]]
4. What kind of peace does Jesus promise in John 14:27, and how is it different from what the world offers?

Interpretation Questions

1. The speaker described his life as “driving the car blindfolded” before surrendering to Jesus. What does this metaphor suggest about living apart from Christ? [[36:05]]
2. The sermon says that many of our deepest struggles are spiritual, not just circumstantial. How does recognizing the spiritual root of problems change the way we approach them? [[45:18]]
3. The speaker emphasized that Jesus is not just a spiritual “insurance policy” for the afterlife, but the King who wants to lead us now. How might this change someone’s daily priorities or sense of purpose? [[39:44]]
4. The sermon mentions that walking in the light brings clarity and better decisions. How does having God’s light help us see ourselves and our situations differently? [[52:21]]

Application Questions

1. The speaker shared about a “jump point” moment when everything changed for him spiritually. Have you ever experienced a moment like this, where you sensed God moving you from darkness to light? What happened, and how did it change you? [[36:05]]
2. The sermon talks about treating Jesus as King, not just as a helper or “insurance policy.” In what areas of your life do you tend to keep control instead of letting Jesus “drive the car”? What would it look like to surrender those areas to Him this week? [[39:44]]
3. The speaker suggested that many struggles—like addiction, pride, or repeated mistakes—are spiritual at the root. Is there a struggle in your life that you’ve been treating only on the surface? How could you invite God’s light and Word into that area? [[45:18]]
4. The sermon gave a practical tip: find and memorize specific Bible verses that speak to your struggle. Is there a particular issue you’re facing right now? What verse could you memorize and meditate on this week to help you? [[46:43]]
5. The speaker described how walking in the light led to less fear and anxiety, and more peace. Are there worries or fears you need to bring into God’s light? What would it look like to trust Jesus with those anxieties? [[57:02]]
6. The sermon says God’s plans for us are “immeasurably more than we dare to ask or imagine.” Are there dreams or hopes you’ve given up on because of past mistakes? How might surrendering to Jesus as King open new possibilities for your future? [[59:44]]
7. The speaker encouraged anyone “still in the darkness” to let Jesus be their King. If you’re not sure where you stand, what’s holding you back from surrendering to Jesus? What step could you take today to move toward the light? [[01:02:40]]