My friends,
This blog spot is dedicated to share His light, life, and love with all who read it. We are the last generation, the chosen generation, called out of darkness into His marvelous light! May we each show forth His praises to a world of darkness all around us.
Theme text:
"But ye are a chosen generation . . . a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9 KJV
In following postings I will focus on specific areas of our lives in which God is calling us higher, out of darkness and into His marvelous light. These will include areas such as how to know the will of God and how He leads us, becoming a woman of worth, Christian dress, relationships, parenting, and even our own love story. I will post on the great needs of the world and missions. Sometimes we are walking in darkness without realizing it, but other times we know that we have chosen to walk away from light. Then we are in great danger. All of these postings will be messages the Lord has given me to call us all higher and to prepare us for living with Him in holiness and joy for eternity.
LIGHT: The first thing God did for our world was to create light - "Let there be light" (Gen 1:2). Only one small light can dispel the deepest darkness. Light is needed for LIFE. Without light, there is only death and darkness. Jesus is the LIGHT of the world. There is no LIFE apart from Him. LORD = LIGHT, LIFE. LOVE. Light and life cannot exist apart from one another. BIRTH= coming out of darkness into light. NEW BIRTH= leaving darkness behind, accepting God's light and new life. Many lights together are more useful than a lone one.
DARKNESS: Blind people live in continual darkness. We are in darkness if our eyes are shut. We don't know we're in the dark unless there is a light or our eyes are opened or unblinded. DEVIL = DARKNESS, DEATH DESPAIR. If we choose to stay behind and not be born (again), we will surely die and cause others to die as well.
LIGHT CAN CAUSE DARKNESS: Very bright light can cause blindness if a person looks at the light source too long, or too directly. The darkness is deeper for those who have once been in great light.
DARKNESS CAN SNUFF LIGHT OUT: We can choose to blow our light out at any time. If we seem to be the only light around, it is very tempting to be like everyone else and live in darkness.
THE DANGER OF TURNING AWAY FROM LIGHT
A study on light and darkness
God has given us hundreds of word pictures to help us understand the gospel. It's as if He is seeking every way possible to communicate His salvation to us in ways we can understand. He has called Himself a loving Father, the water of life for those dying of thirst, the bread of life for the starving, and even a shepherd caring for His sheep. One of my favorite word pictures in the Bible is that of light and darkness. Many deep insights can be learned from this metaphor.
Walking in light
Do you remember the joy of knowing God and His ways, and the changes He made in you? Can you recall the precious experiences you had when all was peace and joy because you were choosing to live up to all that the Lord revealed to you? Wasn't walking in the light of God's love and favor worth everything to you?
Choosing to walk away
On the other hand, do you know what it is like to walk away from God, to be living a life of selfishness, sin and darkness, ignoring His claims on you? Have you who once rejoiced in the light, now chosen to live in darkness? Are you seeking for that illusive happiness and peace that you know can only be found in God?
Is it more dangerous for those who have once known the light than for those who have never known God or His ways? Is it true that God is always ready to forgive and forget? Please read on, for I think many misunderstand God’s ways and the natural consequences of choice.
God has so very graciously and loving called us out of the darkness of sin and separation into His marvelous light of love and fellowship. He has truly “called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9. In doing so, the ultimate price was paid with the precious blood of Jesus, shed on our behalf. God is always ready to forgive any and all who come to Him in true repentance. He stands ready to work miracles in each heart and life.
I am deeply troubled as I observe both young and older people who from all appearances are choosing to live in opposition to much of what they know is God’s will for His last day people. These are young people who have grown up in homes where parents have tried their best to train them in God’s ways. They are young people who have gone to our schools, have a solid foundation in God’s truth, yet choose to disregard it and are living in the way of their own choosing. These are older people who have let the world march into their lives, and are living in compromise and sin. They are choosing the “way that seems right to a man”.
Light becomes darkness
What does God say to those who have once had this marvelous light, and accepted what He has done, but who choose willingly to turn away and go into the world? What about His last-day people who have had great advantages, great knowledge through His word and His last day prophet, who know His will for these last days, but who walk away from it all? Are they in greater danger than those who have never known the light? Is there a point of no return? Are the “pleasures” of this world worth loosing eternity for?
Matthew 6:23, 24 says: “If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness. No man can serve two masters . . .” How could light become darkness – even “great darkness”? Could it be that those who once have walked in great light can be left in great darkness if they turn away from the light they have? How and why? Can light become darkness?
Isn't God always ready to save and forgive?
Christians love to quote John 3: 16, 17 about God’s great love for all who believe. Jesus has given His life that ALL might be saved. He is not here to condemn anyone, but to save all. Praise God – that is TRUE!! But there is a part that follows after it in verses 18-21 that we need to become familiar with.
“He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:18-21.
What is this talking about? This verse is saying that it is by our own choice, and our deeds that we show that we do or don’t believe on the Son of God. If we love darkness rather than light, if we hate the light, we stand condemned.
We are like candles
We were all living in darkness like unlit candles before we met Christ. Jesus said “I am the light of the world.” John 9: 5. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness. . . John 1: 4,5 Jesus is the only bright light that can light our candles. He dispels the darkness, and invites us to come near to him and accept His light. We do so, and then we become lights in this dark world. Ps 18:28 says, “For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. “ Praise His name!
But, if we later choose to live apart from Him, our light goes out, and we are left in what the Bible calls “great darkness”. We are confused, blinded, in darkness. “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.” Luke 11:33
“The light of the body is the eye. Therefore when thine eye is single, they whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, they body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If they whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.” Luke 11: 34-36.
Snuffed out
Once our light goes out, is it likely that we will once again become lights for God? Hebrews 6:4-6 says: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.”
Impossible!!? Impossible to be renewed unto repentance? What does that mean? Jesus said, “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light” John 12: 35,36. “Those who resist light and truth will become more hardened and unimpressible, and more bitter against those who love God and keep His commandments” (MS 33, 1911)
“The light that shines upon our path, the truth that commends itself to our consciences, will condemn and destroy the soul, or sanctify and transform it..” 1T 307 It has been said that the same sun that melts wax, hardens clay. So, it depends on whether your heart is soft and open to God’s light, whether you seek to obey God and draw near to Him, or to harden your heart and conscience.
We know that sunlight or a bright source of light can blind people, if it is used improperly. Light can also be obliterated by our choice to live in the darkness. This is a sober reality that each of us needs to seriously consider. If we have truly tasted the heavenly gift of Jesus, received the Holy Spirit, and loved His word, we have been enlightened. We must however, take heed that the light which is in us be not darkness.
A very real war going on for our souls
“I was shown that God's true people are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. God requires of them continual advancement in the knowledge of the truth, and in the way of holiness. Then will they understand the coming in of Satan, and in the strength of Jesus will resist him. Satan will call to his aid legions of his angels to oppose the advance of even one soul, and, if possible, wrest it from the hand of Christ.
“I saw evil angels contending for souls, and angels of God resisting them. The conflict was severe. Evil angels were corrupting the atmosphere with their poisonous influence, and crowding about these souls to stupefy their sensibilities. Holy angels were anxiously watching and waiting to drive back Satan's host. But it is not the work of good angels to control the minds of men against their will. If they yield to the enemy, and make no effort to resist him, then the angels of God can do but little more than hold in check the host of Satan, that they shall not destroy, until further light be given to those in peril, to move them to arouse and look to heaven for help. Jesus will not commission holy angels to extricate those who make no effort to help themselves.
“If Satan sees that he is in danger of losing one soul, he will exert himself to the utmost to keep that one. And when the individual is aroused to his danger, and, with distress and fervor, looks to Jesus for strength, Satan fears that he will lose a captive, and he calls a reinforcement of his angels to hedge in the poor soul, and form a wall of darkness around him, that heaven's light may not reach him. But if the one in danger perseveres, and in his helplessness casts himself upon the merits of the blood of Christ, our Saviour listens to the earnest prayer of faith, and sends a reinforcement of those angels that excel in strength to deliver him. Satan cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears and trembles before His strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan's whole host trembles. He continues to call legions of evil angels to accomplish his object. And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back, well knowing that their battle is lost. The willing subjects of Satan are faithful, active, and united in one object. And although they hate and war with one another, yet they improve every opportunity to advance their common interest. But the great Commander in heaven and earth has limited Satan's power. {1T 345. 1-3}
It’s your choice
“It is not God that blinds the eyes of men or hardens their hearts. He sends them light to correct their errors, and to lead them in safe paths; it is by the rejection of this light that the eyes are blinded and the heart hardened. Often the process is gradual, and almost imperceptible. Light comes to the soul through God's word, through His servants, or by the direct agency of His Spirit; but when one ray of light is disregarded, there is a partial benumbing of the spiritual perceptions, and the second revealing of light is less clearly discerned. So the darkness increases, until it is night in the soul.” (DA 322)
“In eternity this will be our theme: “There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever.” Rev 22:5
My dear friends, take heed that the light that is in you never becomes darkness in your soul. Keep walking in the light and love light and truth. For only in light is there safety, life, and love and hope. Avoid darkness at all costs and do everything possible to save the souls of those who have once rejoiced in the light and have turned away. Don't be afraid to speak plainly with them about eternal realities, and the danger they are in. Jesus is coming soon! We don't have time to waste or to walk in darkness. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Rom. 13:12 Let me assure you, NOTHING in this world is worh missing heaven for!!
Wonderful promises and texts about LIGHT and DARKNESS
Gen 1:3. “Let there be light.”
Ps 18:28 “For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. “
Ps. 27: 1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
Ps 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light. “
Ps 139:12 “Darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
John 9: 5. “I am the light of the world.”
John 1: 4, 5 “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness". .
John 12: 35,36 Walk while you have light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of the light.
Rom 4: 6 “For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” What a beautiful text (and song)!!
Rom. 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
2 Cor 6: 14. “For what communion hath light with darkness?“
Eph 5:8 “Walk as children of the light.”
1 Thess 5:5 “Ye are all the children of light.”
1Pe 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”
1 John 1:5-7 “God is light, and in Him is no darkness AT ALL. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
1 John 2: 9-11 “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”
Rev 18: 23. “The light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee. . . .”
Rev 22:5 “There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
