Out of the Darkness

I remember being afraid of the dark when I was little. I was completely convinced that there was a severe monster infestation in my bedroom. They lived in my closet, under the bed, and even in my toy box! Even as an adult, I can be frightened if I'm awakended at night by something making a noise in the darkness (Usually it's neighborhood cats). I don't often admit it though. I do have my great-grandma's enormous old flashlight, which can double as a billy club, and two or three firearms nearby just in case (Well, I don't expect God to do ALL the work). While I have to have the house completely dark in order to fall asleep, which is darness' good use, darkness itself is usually has negative connotations to it.

Even the Bible makes negative connotations about darkness. It's used in the figurative sense to describe those who do not know or turn their backs on God. It denotes being lost. Ever get lost in the dark when the electricity unexpectedly goes off and have to feel your way out of a room? Jeremiah 10:23 says it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. God intended His manual, the Bible, to be our light source to help us out of the darkness of sin (Psa. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1: 3). 2 Pet. 1: 19 also says, " And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." Jesus is that light as we read in John 1: 4-9. 2 Samuel 22: 29 says, "You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light."

Darkness is a cover for those who want their misdeeds to stay hidden (Jno: 19-21; 2 Cor. 6: 14-15; Eph. 5: 8-14; 1 Pet. 2: 9; 1 Jno. 2: 9). God is light and will not associate Himself with darkness (1 Jno. 1: 5). God's purity wouldn't allow Him to look upon His own Son as Jesus hung there suffering because he took our sins upon himself (Matt. 27: 46). This brings me to another point: While I will never be sinlessly perfect, for no one is, I do not want to be willingly disobedient towards God and turn back towards the darkness--that is, the world. Why? For me it's not the threat of Hell so much as that I can't bear the thought of Him not hearing my prayers because of willful disobedience on my part. That's right. He will not even listen to a willingly sinful person's prayer as long as he or she remains in that state (Jno. 9: 31; Psa. 66:18). In fact, He considers it an abomination for such to pray to Him (Prov. 28:9). I can't imagine having my prayer privileges revoked by God. 1 Peter 4: 7 says, "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." Imagine needing to petition Him so badly on your own or another's behalf and knowing that you are not in a state to even pray to Him. How tragic! Prayer is privilege and power--the greatest power we can access while on earth.

Keep the faith!

Love Ya,
God Bless!