When Darkness comes around

 

Many people are upset with the wickedness that happened in Las Vegas this week.  Some people who just wanted to be entertained among friends and others that like country music came for fun and enjoyment.  But the darkness came out that night. 

 

   Times like these are perfect for us to look at the words of scripture to help us understand the ups and downs of life.  As many of you know, life is not a bed of roses and we are critical of the person that tries to convince otherwise.  We know that from time to time, there will be someone who actually allows the darkness to use them to make history.  The man who planned and made this evil act happen was probably a nice guy at some time just like you and me.  But along the way of life just one detour down a selfish path can bring us to believe that darkness is our destiny. 

    Who do we turn to when darkness comes around?  Who will comfort us right in the middle of trouble?   Well, we do know one man that was not directed, influence nor was he emboldened by the likes of darkness. 

     Jesus Christ the Light of the World    

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:4  (NIV)

 

      The life of Jesus is so full of times when he confronted darkness that we can only say that he was the very opposite.  Not cowering to it, he overcame darkness because He is the light.  The darkness of this world is so very dark and God wants us to know this deep down in our souls.  The Bible begins with God proclaiming light into the world and making all of the world very good. Yet upon the disobedience of the first man, darkness came around. 

       Do you know that the darkness is so influential that you or I can be duped into thinking that we are doing God a favor when we follow the rules of darkness.  Remember Cain the son of Adam and Eve, thinking he was justified in killing his brother because his own sacrifice was selfishly offered.  The influence of religion is a powerful thing and still affects the turning of the world today. 

   

     We have many other events that reveal how dark the darkness can be but we must turn to the light and follow the one who is for us.  

     Slavery all over the world through the centuries

    Incarceration of Jews in Europe

     Genocide in Rwanda

    Apartheid in South Africa

    The bombing of Pearl Harbor

    The terror attack on the twin towers of NY and Washington, D.C.

and now...

    The massacre of Las Vegas

When the darkness comes around it is so prevalent that we are mystified about the existence of evil itself.  Contemplating how this could happen in such a nice world. But the many occasions that history offers us is evident that the way of the world is not of the nature of a soft, warm Teddy Bear.
     Scripture offers to us some consolation regarding the darkness of this world because when we are enjoying the lovely and exciting pleasantries of the light,  it is very hard to convince us that the darkness is still here with us.

      Of olden times on the coast of Cornwall there were wreckers. These men tied a lantern on the head of an ass, and drove the animal along the heights that fringe the shore. Ships at sea saw this light, and thinking them to be guides where there was open water, ran towards them, fell on rocks, and were dashed to pieces. Then the wreckers came down to the shore, and took from the wrecked ship all that could be saved.

      There are a host of these false signals about in the religious world, leading men to destruction. What, then, are we to do? Look to the lighthouse of the Church, built by the hands of Jesus Christ. In it He has set the clear, steady light of revealed truth.  

   Do not follow the darkness or your life may shipwreck along the shore so that the devil would salvage your efforts for his purpose.  And that purpose is to devastate many lives and to place the blame upon our God. 

 There is a wonderful hymn that I sung in church this past Sunday.  In it was a phrase that I continued to think on during the rest of the day.   

‘Be thou my Vision’

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art,

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”

       God is our best thought, Why?  Because He loves us, revealed himself to us, offers us comfort and love in this life and gave up His one and only Son so that we might have life. 

          ^KJV John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

Light is so lively that we enjoy the benefits of it daily.  Dark is so deadly that it makes resounding images in the minds of men and women.  Walk in the light so that your deeds can be attributed to the one who loves you. 

          May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.  Amen..