LIGHT vs DARK

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

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)

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