06/05/2020
Are we holding firm to our faith in Jesus Christ as the world boils and evil seeks to destroy the peace and rest of God in us? In the midst of the world’s darkness that is stirring strife, even from the pulpits, there shines forth a light, and in that light we find not only our life, but the light which is the life of the world... Jesus. He is unlike every lamp, or torch, because He can’t be extinguished, not by deception, lies, or any other sin. He has defeated these through His own life, death, and resurrection, and His brightness lights our way as we navigate the darkness of the fallen world, even death, that surrounds us.
“For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
Psalm 56:13 ESV
In this time, like others men have experienced, we see Satan roaring on the earth. He looks upon a peaceful herd, and in their moment of greatest tranquility he springs into action and scatters them chaotically across the plain. He sees peaceful discussions, and calming debates between souls, then speaks discord, and anger, into their hearts. He places stones in their hands, and emboldens their intransigence. In the darkness He rages, and sin once again abounds, as hatred boils over to scald the world.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12 KJV
In such times as these, our hope rests in Jesus, who is the light of life, and brings that light into the souls of those who believe in Him as being the Son of God. He has overcome the world, and shines like a beacon into the darkness of every man’s sin. He brings eternal life where Satan promises a fleeting earthly life.
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:4-5 ESV
Yes, Jesus has overcome the world, sin, and death. There is trouble, hatred, and tribulation in the world, but in Christ we have righteousness, and peace. We are not meant to be children of the world, but rather to be transformed... becoming the children of God for eternity.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 KJV
So who shall we fear? In this time of discord, and rage, we are wooed into believing we are entering into a struggle between men, but that is a ploy to draw us into a war that is beyond our understanding. No man, nor country, can take your soul, because men are only flesh and blood, and countries merely ideology, but in spiritual realms we can be slain, and our souls lost forevermore. This is the danger that lurks in the dark recesses of the world, and burns on its streets in the night.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV
Our greatest fear is that we would be deceived by the subtle lies of Satan or his minions, and made to feel that the causes of the world overshadow the Word of God, or that what is wrong can be justified as right because we feel the cause outweighs sin in God’s eyes. This is the snare that entangles us in the world, and holds us there in disobedience to the will of God, this becomes our blindness to the light of Christ, and where we lose the light of life.
“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! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”
Isaiah 5:20-21 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word that leads us out of the darkness, and your Son Jesus who is the light of life. Thank you for speaking good into our hearts, and restoring your will into our lives, and faith into our spiritual selves, when we have strayed, and fallen victim to the dark one’s lies. Open our eyes to your truth Father, not the false truth that the world would have us believe, but your truth that is perfect, and leads us to Holy eternity with you. Give us discernment Father so that he who is in the earth will not twist our knowledge of right, what is sweet, and the true light of life. Instill in us your wisdom Lord, and don’t let us fall into the slippery pit that moral wisdom of man, and the sinful, have dug to trap us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you whose Word establishes the way to life, and by whose Son Jesus our way is well lit. Praised be your name for each temptation you lead us to resist, and every sin that goes uncommitted. Great are you who calls us out of the dark, and shows us the fallacies of worldly wisdom. Strong is your right arm that lifts us above the lies, and half-truths of Satan as he works to overcome your will in our lives with his deception. Hear our prayers as we pray for those whose souls hang in the balance, and who have lost sight of the light of life. Hear our prayers as we pray for the souls of those that put their cause above yours, and worship man over you. Hear our prayers as we pray that you transform those who kneel before you, and bless them as they obey you by standing in the light of life. You are merciful God, and your grace is extended through Jesus to all those who will turn to Him. We worship you Father, and give you the glory for every victory in our lives. We lift you up above ourselves, and every false god that we might be tempted to worship. In you we remain fixed, and pray that you establish us in you now, and forevermore.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:8-11 ESV
Rich Forbes