Archive for the ‘Darkness’ Category

LIGHT AND DARKNESS

Saturday, December 4th, 2010

Day 264

“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man”
Revelation 1:12-13

You may never have considered this before; we still live in a dark age. We are surrounded by darkness. One only has to listen to the news to be aware of the darkness and it seems to be increasing. With the advent of literacy and education, we have entered an age of nihilism. Humanity believes it has escaped the ‘dark age’ because it is now educated and has knowledge.

When God chose to reveal Himself He sent His Son to become man. Light came to the earth for the first time since the fall. Jesus revealed the Father and His divine plan. He bore witness to the Light and was the Light. John says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:5). When Jesus completed His mission, He ascended into heaven and the earth continued in darkness.

With Christ’s ascension, He made provision for the Light to be here on the earth. The seven golden lampstands is the church and His children are the light in the world. In the midst of the church stands the resurrected Christ. We bear the light, testimony, and the message of reconciliation to those still in darkness. There is hope.

“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests
to serve His God and Father – to Him be glory
and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 1:5b-6

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GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Day 72

“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not
lead them on the road . . . that was the shortest
way from Egypt to the Promised Land”
Exodus 13:17

God led the Israelites on a road that trapped them between the wilderness and the Red Sea. Pharaoh came after the Israelites with everything he had – his entire army of horses, chariots, and charioteers were committed to the chase. It wasn’t long before he caught up to the Israelites, and when they saw Pharaoh’s army approaching they began to panic and cry out to the Lord for help.

It got worse. Being caught with a sea to your back, and the only way of escape occupied by an army that wants to crush you, can strike fear in your heart. To the Israelites, it looked like the end. They turned against Moses, accusing him of leading them there to die. Things got bitter and they lost hope. How many times have we faced situations in our life that looked like the end? The great test of our character comes when we can find no answers, and see the absolute end of everything approaching.

But those Israelites were led into the impossible by God. He positioned them where they would find no answers. They believed they were going to die; it can’t get worse than that! But it was all for God’s purposes, because He is the answer, and only He could rescue them. And in the end, they did not have to lift a finger in their defense. This is our God: the God of the impossible. And He loves nothing more than to demonstrate His glory by rescuing us from the impossible.

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and
watch the Lord rescue you. . . . You won’t
have to lift a finger in your defense”
Exodus 14:13-14

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THE GLORY OF THE LORD

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Day 31

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you”
Isaiah 60:1

This verse is addressing those lost in darkness, and those responsible for putting themselves in darkness. Darkness brings despair and hopelessness. Yet, it is from that place that God will bring light out of darkness. He will cause the light to shine on the very people that put themselves in darkness. He will substitute freedom for the prison in which they shut themselves. He will cause shouts of joy to come out of humiliation. The crooked way will be made straight.

Yes, our God delivers even those who put themselves into darkness! And He not only delivers, but He also restores and makes wrongs right. All tears will be wiped away. God’s people will be the delight of the Lord. And those who have been in despair, distress, debt; the broken, forsaken, rejected, and abused will be the glory of the Lord. God Himself will be glorified by what they become.

This is the hope in our hopelessness. If darkness comes in our life, even by our own hands, we will not be lost. God says that His arm is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear us. He cares for us, and Christ is the hope of our glory. His mercy covers us, and His compassion is new every morning.

“Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy”
Isaiah 60:5

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