1/16/21

A few days ago the local power company issued a warning that a “planned outage” was
going to happen at a particular date and time. I thought to myself then that this plan was
not my plan. Who wants to sit around in the dark? Who came up with this plan anyway?
Immediately the survivalist instinct took over. Lights, and batteries…check. Candles and fire
making devices (in case the lights and batteries went out) …check. As I was preparing to
exist in darkness I wondered about how distinct and different darkness and light are. In
Genesis 1:3 we read that light was the first thing God spoke into being “And God said, Let
there be light: and there was light.” God followed that up in verse 4 “And God saw the light,
that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Ever since that time light
and darkness have been at odds with each other. Here is a good definition of Light and
Darkness from Lexham Theological Wordbook “Physically, light and darkness exist in
metaphysical opposition. Light as an energy source provides illumination, leading to the
ability to make visual distinctions among colors and physical objects. Darkness is the
absence of light and color, whether as a place or condition, which results in disorientation,
distortion, and confusion.” When darkness comes people look for ways to break that
darkness and reach for the light switch (providing there is not a “planned outage.”) Most
folks seek the light and shun the darkness.
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In 2 nd Corinthians 4:4-6 we read “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of
God, should shine unto them. 5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 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.” In this passage God associates darkness with a blinded or
unbelieving mind. It is in the darkness of the heart that the “god of this world” operates.
The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe and
because of that they cannot grasp the Gospel. The believer is defined as a person who has
been saved. We can read in Romans 10:9-13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed. 12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the
same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved.” A belief in God from the heart is the only way to know

God, the only way to have sins forgiven. In Acts 26:18 Paul testified before King Agrippa
that Jesus had selected him to share the Gospel “To open their eyes, and to turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness
of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” It is
through Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross, his shed blood that we have the opportunity for
forgiveness of sin. I say opportunity because sadly not all who hear will believe. Some will
struggle along their way believing in Satan, the god of this world, reject that opportunity
and die in their sins. Because of that decision they will spend an eternity in hell separated
from God forever.

In 2 nd Corinthians 4:6 God “commanded the light to shine out of darkness.” In this dark
world we as believers function as light. There is no separation for a believer from your
relationship to God and your life in this world. God’s word applies to all aspects of our life. It
is that word that he will measure us by. The darker the night the greater the light. Be the
light that this dark world needs to see.

Enjoy your day!
Pastor Gary