For ye were sometimes darkness,
but now are ye light in the Lord:
walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8
Living
where we do, a stone's throw from a national park, it isn't unusual
for an alert to go out that someone has lost their way in the park
during a hiking trip. There have been times when a child has
wandered away and become lost. One thing that has been suggested to
hikers, especially children or very inexperienced ones, has been when
one realizes he is lost, to stop where he is, sit down and wait for
help to come. It is important at such a time for the lost one to
stay on the trail and not venture beyond it hoping to find help. The
tendency even when lost, and in a panic, to continue wandering hoping
to see some place or some thing familiar. It can get where all trees
look alike so the lost one can wander almost aimlessly becoming more
and more lost.
When
lost in the daylight, a lost hiker still feels encouraged until
evening begins to set in. When darkness falls, in a setting like the
park here, there is real panic...there are shadows, strange
sounds...even various animal sounds of those that wander through the
forest at night foraging for food. The darkness becomes a serious
enemy for one who is completely lost, who cannot focus or see
anything clearly. The lost hiker is thrilled beyond words at the
sight of a flashlight beam in the dark from a searcher or to see
someone walking toward him through the woods during daylight hours.
Scripture
speaks in several areas about darkness, mostly a spiritual darkness
that we can become exposed to or even find ourselves in the very
middle of. We live in a country of moral and spiritual darkness.
It's a darkness God hates and that a good many of Americans are choosing,
sadly, even Americans of Christian faith.
Woe
unto them, that call evil good, and
good evil; that put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20
good evil; that put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20
This
verse speaks to where many in our country are with regard to morals
and standards...good is no longer just good and evil is coming to be
seen in more of a good and positive light. What used to be wrong
behavior and lifestyles are now being rationalized as being okay.
Anymore, our culture isn't just black and white, but morals and
standards are viewed as being more gray where people can decide for
themselves what is good or evil. When this mentality becomes a
reality, then, a person has come into the realm of darkness and has
fled the light God intends for each of us. As Christians, we are
meant to be people of discernment and thus of light.
Straying
out of the light into the dark is now almost bragged about in public
ways. I love game shows on television. I have noticed in recent
years when people are introduced, some male contestants speak of
their husbands. Some women freely speak of men they not only live
with, but with whom they have had children with no marriage in sight.
I can't imagine such things being proudly aired 30 or 40 years ago.
It would have been totally unheard of then.
Our
justice system excuses the worst of criminals with mere slaps on
their hands whether it be serious drug offenses or child abuse.
Women who are victims of rape have to prove they didn't consent to
the act itself. Our society has slipped so far morally that right
itself has slipped into the shadows of wrong, or so it would appear
at times.
In
our own confusion, observing the downward spiral into moral darkness,
as God's children, we want desperately to do something about it all.
If we had complete control over our country, we think we know the
buttons we would push that would take us back to those “happy days”
of the 1950's. There were problems of sin then as has been every for
all generations since Adam and Eve. We are all born into sin...no
one is perfect...all have sinned. Perhaps back then, we lost our
alertness and were naive regarding Satan and his ploys. Whatever
happened then and now, we want desperately to do something. So what
are some things we can do in our day?
We
must remember that where we are now is because of things that
happened in individual hearts. Evil beings in individuals, but so
does godliness. I read a little quote years ago that said, “If
everyone in our country cleaned off their own doorstep, think what a
clean country we would have.” If change is to come, it will come
in individual hearts that includes that of Christians. We have
dropped our guard and are spectators in all of this instead of being
pro-active in standing for right and for the things of God
Our
job is to get back to basics. We are to be people of prayer. Change
will not come without a praying people. We must find our strength in
God's Word. It is our sword in times of spiritual warfare.
Christians must stop leading double lives. Christians often
participate in those things that are unwise choices such as alcohol
abuse or poor entertainment choices. Jesus made very clear in
Matthew 7:
Ye
are the light of the world....(14a)
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in
heaven. (16)
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in
heaven. (16)
We
may be that beam of light a lost person sees in his/her darkness.
They may not even have known they needed rescued, but when in the
middle of their darkness, frightened of their futures, this light you
and I show forth may be a more welcome sight than we can
imagine. Some such persons may have come to the end of themselves
and are sitting, waiting for salvation. Others may be lost and still
on the move trying to find their own way, but becoming more and more
lost. Either way, we Christians are those lights in the darkness.
Just as a flashlight can lose power when batteries run low, we can
run low as well if we don't stay strengthened in the Lord. Let's not
despair...we are on the winning side, but we still have things to do
and lights to shine. Let's keep our batteries charged and let's
shine our lights as commanded in the dark world we are seeing in our
day.
Thank
You Jesus, for dying for my sin and for saving me. I know You are
THE answer to every problem in our dark society. There's no problem
too big for You. I trust Your working in my life and always want to
be open to how You want to use me. May I be “ever ready” to let
my light shine for You. In Your precious name....Amen