The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever
brighter till the full light of day. But, the way of the wicked is like deep darkness.
They do not know what makes them stumble. ~Proverbs 4:18-19
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. ~Isaiah 9:2
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” ~Ephesians 5:8-14
This is the message we have heard from Him and now declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin. ~1 John 1:5-7
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. ~1 John 2:9-11
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of live. ~Phil. 2:14-15
Well, let’s see; there’s a lot about light here that probably doesn’t need to be repeated. We know that evil is darkness and that light is associated with God, or God’s way, or God’s children. We know that when we do what is right, we shine like Jesus. We know that if we claim to be Christians, we’d better walk the walk and not just talk the talk. So Hmmmm, what is there to think about today?
I think that what struck me today was Solomon’s description of the wicked. “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.” Does that, maybe, change your heart toward them, just a bit? They really are clueless.
Back in 2015, Kathy and I made a one-day, mad dash trip to New York, to try to help our son Chris. It was definitely a God thing. He was stuck in a mental hospital and we knew that he would continue getting tossed around in New York City if we didn’t intervene, so we went. We took nothing with us but our wallets containing our ids. Because I didn’t have to deal with carry-ons and keeping track of personal possessions, I had nothing to do but wait in line at security. I was always amazed at the change in expression and demeanor of the security crew when they helped Kathy. Even at LaGuardia with New York’s toughness all around, I would watch them transform from tough, all business, to kind and compassionate. They let down their guard with her and their humanity came through. It was an amazing transformation to behold.
What if we saw those who do not know Christ the way security people viewed Kathy? Solomon says that they are stumbling around in the dark too and they have no clue what they are doing or why. I know that it’s hard for us to believe. Some of the wickedness that we are aware of just seems so impossible to believe that they don’t know what they are doing. Yet, John repeats this imagery when he says: that the righteous who are walking in the light do not stumble, but, “whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”
What if we saw the lost this way, stumbling around, running into each other and other things, thinking they are alone because they truly can’t see anyone else? True, some may seem to have found something that brings them security and hope. Perhaps it’s a bank account, a position of power, a special relationship. But the sense of security those things bring is false. The main reason that they cling is because, while they are still holding on to this deception, they have stopped stumbling for a moment. Why do they continue down this path?
First of all, they are born in sin, as we all are. Unlike we who were rescued and brought into the light, they are still imprisoned in satan’s darkness, so dark they can’t even see their hand before their face. Then, satan keeps feeding them his lies over and over. Everything from, “You will always be unlovable,” to, “You can get away with it.” The lies are all they hear, all they know. We were there once. Do you remember what it was like? You just keep stumbling around in futility. You may have even been told the lie, “There’s no way out.” We, on the outside still get frustrated and even hurt by their behavior, but still, they need our help! They need to be rescued.
We have the light. Sadly, satan even still tries to distort that and attempts to cover up our light with more lies, more confusion. That’s why people we’re trying to rescue resist the good news of the gospel. But does that mean we should put our light away in our pocket and just give up? I wonder how often satan wins because we just give up and go home.
Jesus referred to satan as the Father of lies, and he is, but it’s worse than that, he is deception itself. Everything he says is a lie and that’s what the lost are trapped in.
I want to make one clarifying point here. Last week, I quoted Psalm 37 which says that “the Lord laughs at the wicked for He knows there day is coming.” (Psalm 37:12) Please do not think that I mean that the Lord is laughing at the lost in their plight. Remember, He loves the lost and has died to provide a way to rescue them. I believe that the Lord is really laughing at satan himself because He is the most deceived of all. He is caught up in the deception of believing His own press. Even though Christ has won the victory, satan still thinks that, somehow, he can pull an upset. If, however, you’ve read to the end of the book, even you know he is wrong. Satan’s day is coming. He would rather believe that he can change that, but he won’t.
Does light truly dispel the darkness? Can truth really stand up against satan’s lies? Do we really believe this? Then we must keep holding out His Word. Keep shining, like a star in the universe. In reality, up close, stars are pretty bright you know! God has promised us victory in the end. Do we believe that? Then we have to keep shining, keep penetrating, keep guiding and leading so that they will stop stumbling around in the dark and come into the light. Then they too will be able to see for themselves that they are not alone. They need to see that there is a community to embrace them and a God who loves them unconditionally.
Prayer: Lord, may my life shine with your light. Fill me with Your compassion, Lord, so that when I meet up with someone stumbling in the darkness of sin, You can use me to lead them out and lead them home to you, by the power of your love, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: ”Child Of the Light”
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. ~Isaiah 9:2
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” ~Ephesians 5:8-14
This is the message we have heard from Him and now declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin. ~1 John 1:5-7
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. ~1 John 2:9-11
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of live. ~Phil. 2:14-15
Well, let’s see; there’s a lot about light here that probably doesn’t need to be repeated. We know that evil is darkness and that light is associated with God, or God’s way, or God’s children. We know that when we do what is right, we shine like Jesus. We know that if we claim to be Christians, we’d better walk the walk and not just talk the talk. So Hmmmm, what is there to think about today?
I think that what struck me today was Solomon’s description of the wicked. “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.” Does that, maybe, change your heart toward them, just a bit? They really are clueless.
Back in 2015, Kathy and I made a one-day, mad dash trip to New York, to try to help our son Chris. It was definitely a God thing. He was stuck in a mental hospital and we knew that he would continue getting tossed around in New York City if we didn’t intervene, so we went. We took nothing with us but our wallets containing our ids. Because I didn’t have to deal with carry-ons and keeping track of personal possessions, I had nothing to do but wait in line at security. I was always amazed at the change in expression and demeanor of the security crew when they helped Kathy. Even at LaGuardia with New York’s toughness all around, I would watch them transform from tough, all business, to kind and compassionate. They let down their guard with her and their humanity came through. It was an amazing transformation to behold.
What if we saw those who do not know Christ the way security people viewed Kathy? Solomon says that they are stumbling around in the dark too and they have no clue what they are doing or why. I know that it’s hard for us to believe. Some of the wickedness that we are aware of just seems so impossible to believe that they don’t know what they are doing. Yet, John repeats this imagery when he says: that the righteous who are walking in the light do not stumble, but, “whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”
What if we saw the lost this way, stumbling around, running into each other and other things, thinking they are alone because they truly can’t see anyone else? True, some may seem to have found something that brings them security and hope. Perhaps it’s a bank account, a position of power, a special relationship. But the sense of security those things bring is false. The main reason that they cling is because, while they are still holding on to this deception, they have stopped stumbling for a moment. Why do they continue down this path?
First of all, they are born in sin, as we all are. Unlike we who were rescued and brought into the light, they are still imprisoned in satan’s darkness, so dark they can’t even see their hand before their face. Then, satan keeps feeding them his lies over and over. Everything from, “You will always be unlovable,” to, “You can get away with it.” The lies are all they hear, all they know. We were there once. Do you remember what it was like? You just keep stumbling around in futility. You may have even been told the lie, “There’s no way out.” We, on the outside still get frustrated and even hurt by their behavior, but still, they need our help! They need to be rescued.
We have the light. Sadly, satan even still tries to distort that and attempts to cover up our light with more lies, more confusion. That’s why people we’re trying to rescue resist the good news of the gospel. But does that mean we should put our light away in our pocket and just give up? I wonder how often satan wins because we just give up and go home.
Jesus referred to satan as the Father of lies, and he is, but it’s worse than that, he is deception itself. Everything he says is a lie and that’s what the lost are trapped in.
I want to make one clarifying point here. Last week, I quoted Psalm 37 which says that “the Lord laughs at the wicked for He knows there day is coming.” (Psalm 37:12) Please do not think that I mean that the Lord is laughing at the lost in their plight. Remember, He loves the lost and has died to provide a way to rescue them. I believe that the Lord is really laughing at satan himself because He is the most deceived of all. He is caught up in the deception of believing His own press. Even though Christ has won the victory, satan still thinks that, somehow, he can pull an upset. If, however, you’ve read to the end of the book, even you know he is wrong. Satan’s day is coming. He would rather believe that he can change that, but he won’t.
Does light truly dispel the darkness? Can truth really stand up against satan’s lies? Do we really believe this? Then we must keep holding out His Word. Keep shining, like a star in the universe. In reality, up close, stars are pretty bright you know! God has promised us victory in the end. Do we believe that? Then we have to keep shining, keep penetrating, keep guiding and leading so that they will stop stumbling around in the dark and come into the light. Then they too will be able to see for themselves that they are not alone. They need to see that there is a community to embrace them and a God who loves them unconditionally.
Prayer: Lord, may my life shine with your light. Fill me with Your compassion, Lord, so that when I meet up with someone stumbling in the darkness of sin, You can use me to lead them out and lead them home to you, by the power of your love, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: ”Child Of the Light”
Comments
Post a Comment