John 1:5 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (ESV)

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (KJV)

And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. (ASV)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. (CEB)

Here are four versions of the same passage. Others are represented by these four thought processes. Those translations may have been chosen to reach different people who by education, familiarity and conditioning would best comprehend the meaning behind the Greek.

It is likely that we all have one version we comprehend better than the others. We call that preferred version, our go version to when it comes to doing our daily bible studies. We want to understand in a way that makes the most sense to us.

We all know someone that uses another version for their own purposes. Now comes my point to choosing this course of writing.

Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. (no version listed)

Can we agree that darkness is the absence of light.

Now we must examine the qualities of light. Light is only visible because it strikes an object. We can argue that we can see the stars which are light but only because that light has stuck our retina. Without the eye, light still exists but is not seen.

Light reveals because we can see, we have eyes.

Isaiah 42:18 English Standard Version

Israel’s Failure to Hear and See

18 Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see!

God is speaking to us about spiritual blindness and deafness.

Eyes and ears that only perceive the world are worldly. They are in spiritual darkness.

The truth in scripture is only revealed to spiritual eyes. The spirit does not care which translation is used.

What happens to us when others do not see what we see?

Habakkuk 2:3 English Standard Version (ESV) For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Every vision, every word of prophecy has its own appointed time. Jesus cautioned us about saying we have seen His return when it has not happened.

Matthew 24:23 English Standard Version (ESV) Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

We must not allow our desire to replace realistic expectations. When it comes to those appointed times, our expectations cannot make it happen any sooner.

Think of it this way, would you want Him to come and snatch us away only to discover those that we love are left behind?

Neither should we frustrate those we love with fear. Love them perfectly and allow love to do what love does best.

1 John 4:18 English Standard Version (ESV) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Fear for a loved one’s salvation will not hasten their appointed time.

God will save whom He will save and our fear will not change His will in the matter.

We should not allow that thought to stop us from loving them.