The Dawn of the Light

 

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2, BSB)

At the beginning of Isaiah 9, Isaiah prophesied about the northwestern tribes of Israel—Zebulun and Naphtali. These tribes were two of Israel's three northwestern tribes. Isaiah’s prophecy was not exclusively for the Israelites. For whom was and is this prophecy intended? What was the prophecy? What did it mean? As we gradually go through Isaiah’s prophecy in verses one through seven, we will learn what the prophecy meant and means for Israelites and Gentiles then and now.

In Isaiah 9:1, Isaiah specifically mentioned Zebulun and Naphtali. Isaiah 8 was prophesied to the northern kingdom, too. By mentioning Zebulun and Naphtali specifically, Isaiah meant the prophecy was for every person living in the northern kingdom of Israel then. Why include all the people? Since the Zebulun and Naphtali tribal lands were the borderlands of Israel, people from other nations traveled through and/or made their homes there. The foreigners who came into these lands became intermixed with the Jews in marriage, thought, religion, and culture. Recognizing this, when Isaiah prophesied to Zebulun and Naphtali, he prophesied to the Jews and Gentiles in Israel. When Assyria overthrew the northern kingdom, the Assyrian king captured people, regardless of their nationality. The apostle Matthew used this prophecy in Matthew 4:13-17 to tell the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those verses reiterated that the prophecy of Isaiah was and is for Jews and Gentiles.

Because Isaiah 9:2 speaks of people, we had to understand to whom Isaiah spoke and wrote to consider what Isaiah’s prophecy meant in Isaiah 9:2. Likewise, to understand well the whole prophecy, we must understand its parts. Verse two introduces the metaphor of dark and light God gave to Isaiah to prophesy. Verse two says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” What did Isaiah mean by the metaphor of light and dark? What message did God want the people from Israel to know?

God’s metaphor of light and dark runs throughout the Bible. Generally, light refers to God and darkness refers to evil. Just as darkness keeps people from seeing reality (its good and evil parts), so spiritual darkness in this passage kept the people in Israel from seeing, hearing, and worshipping God. Darkness continued to confuse the people of Israel, so they did wrong instead of right.

Light represents Yahweh God. He reveals all things (good and evil). Darkness does not. Darkness enshrouded the people of Israel and tricked them into believing lies. Those lies led to the Assyrian enemies capturing the people of Israel. The people for decades had not sought the light and wandered wearily through the darkness of warring empires, raiding bandits, and enemies from their families and tribes. Decades and centuries of guiding themselves into the dark mists led God to discipline them by using their feared enemies.

The people living within Israel did not walk only in darkness. They lived in “the land of the shadow of death.” Assyria, in their battles against Israel for three years, caused thousands of people to die and captured thousands. To ensure obedience to the Assyrian king, the king ordered the blinding or killing of some of their leaders and the castrating of others. This king enslaved the people of Israel. He put rings in their noses by which to lead them. The educated and/or talented, the king used for his benefit. He had them learn the Assyrian language and acquire their knowledge. The Assyrian king did not allow the captives to worship Yahweh God during the first years of their captivity.

These happenings more fully encompassed the “shadow of death” about which Isaiah prophesied. The people of Israel forcefully died in their will because they had no choices. The Assyrians broke the wills and spirits of the people they captured. Israel’s people lived in Assyria, the “land of the shadow of death.” They lacked hope. God, through Isaiah, wanted the people to experience the depths of darkness that would enshroud them as His disciplining them. Yet, He wanted to give them hope. The light, about which Isaiah prophesied, would shatter the darkness. God shatters the darkness. His light would shatter the darkness Assyria put over the people of Israel as Isaiah prophesied.

God would not leave them in Assyria. He did not disinherit the people of Israel. God is faithful to Himself (His promises) and to His people. Their captors would not overpower and enslave them forever; God would not allow it. He does not call people His own and then leave them as captives. God promised, then gave them the Promised Land—a place to call home and to have freedom. The land was theirs forever. Understanding that God is faithful, even when He must discipline, helped hearers then and readers since have hope and keep their faith in God. They would/will not dwell in “the shadow of death” forever.

The people of Israel would know personally what David meant when he sang, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). Living in Israel and worshipping God in His temple gives freedom from “the shadow of death.” It comes because of the person’s seeking, finding, revering, and obeying God. God would raise His light upon the people. He would give them freedom in areas of their lives that the Assyrian king overpowered and removed. On the day the Israelites received freedom from captivity, the light of God would have dawned anew in their hearts, minds, and spirits. Living in the land of Israel would bring them refreshment in their beings. Israel's refreshment would be living in the land of God and dwelling in His house forever. Still, they would yearn for a deeper relationship with God because they would not be as close to Him as they desired. Sin created a chasm between God and them.

Understanding that Isaiah spoke this prophecy of chapter nine to all people in Israel—Jew and Gentile—the Bible student can surmise why Matthew used this prophecy to share the gospel. Matthew taught about Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection—the gospel of Jesus Christ. For the Israelites taken into captivity, the dawned light was their release from Assyrian captivity. Jesus is the Light that banishes darkness. Living in Israel and worshipping God did not provide pardon for sins and a personal relationship with God. Their freedom from captivity just gave them again a seeking, finding, and revering Him. What more did the Israelites need to be closer to God? God alluded to it in the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-7.

A nation had been groping for any light and hope onto which to hold. God sent Isaiah to give them hope with His prophecy to all the people from Israel. These people received a hint of hope. This hope was not merely about return the people to the Promised Land.

God intended more, an ultimate Hope—the Light—whose kingdom and power never end. He intended to fulfill His promises completely. Jesus, Light of the world (John 8:12), became human to live among them. He lived sinlessly, taught powerfully, healed mightily, showed great wisdom, and died at the hands of scared people.

Yet, Jesus did not remain dead. No manmade vault or conceived idea can box the Light of the world. Jesus conquered death when He rose from it three days after His death. His light never ends. Jesus is the Son of God, the true Light of all lights and the true Hope of all people. He ushered forth from the northern tribes’ lands, and, from there, God fulfilled His prophecies. Jesus’ Light is unquenchable. No darkness changes or contains Him. Instead, Jesus commands and contains the darkness.

Like the prophecy of Isaiah occurred, and the people returned to the Promised Land, Jesus came to earth as Victor. The restoration of the relationship of God to human that began in Genesis 1 had its penultimate ending with Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus provided the sacrifice for people to be restored to a right relationship with God. The ultimate ending will occur upon Jesus’ return to earth to bind Satan and take the God’s children to be with Him in glory. The dawn of the Light came to earth at Jesus’ birth and forever eclipses darkness and evil. Jesus’ provision of salvation—a restoring of people to a right relationship with God—is the “what more” the Israelites and Gentiles needed for the close relationship with God they desired.

God includes people around the world as those to whom He calls to receive light—permanent freedom from the darkness. He alluded to it in Isaiah 9. Matthew told about it in Matthew 4. Instead of striving hard and never escaping the darkness that imprisons each person, seek the Light of lights and the King of kings. This light is the Savior whose power is greater than any person, life, death, angel of demon (Romans 8:38-39). Satan, the father of darkness, did not trick Jesus or ensnare and enshroud Him. Jesus’ power is greater than all other powers. His Light is eternal and never dims. Why seek the darkness in the mist? Seek the Light that dawned about two millennia ago, which darkness never can dim.

(Note: Jesus’ ministry time of proclaiming Himself as the fulfillment of the prophecies began when Herod imprisoned John. Because the time had come for God’s Light, Jesus went to Capernaum in Naphtali. From Naphtali, Jesus began teaching and preaching in Galilee of the Gentiles. Mary and Joseph raised Him in Nazareth of Zebulun. These two tribes are the ones Isaiah spoke of in his prophecy when he meant every person living in Israel.)

May the Peace

(photo credits to Dyu - Ha)

Laughter and tears, joy and fear

These are part of growing from child to man.

Yet, darkness often accosts

By the hands of angry men again and again.

Running and riding,

Kite-flying and joy,

Playing football and cowboys,

Oh, how fun to be a young boy.

Storms and sunshine,

Rainbows and rumbling,

Run for shelter at crack of lightning,

Finding on entering, the storm’s crashing.

 

Short was the darkness

Maybe imagination that passed.

Skateboards and bikes anew,

Games of tag, red robin at last.

 

Day ends and darkness comes,

Normal though it may seem.

Enters door dark and looming,

It wasn’t imagining.

 

Hands raised high bring darkness,

Crack of belt brings shock and pain.

Disillusion and lost approval,

Greater loss than the “disciplining.”

 

Less heard is laughter

Loss of joy as fear takes its hold.

Peeking round corners

Fear of what may happen still to unfold.

 

Not knowing each day’s darkness,

Wary, wondering when it will come.

Inner fear, lack of presumed love,

Seeking acceptance just for once.

 

Enter light, so bright when arrived,

Cast darkness back from this child.

Come to Me He said,

You are loved and all mine.

 

Scrabbling quickly at escape,

Swiftly following toward Light’s love.

Peeking back to ensure,

Darkness corralled, no more to hurt.

 

Child of Light and of Day,

Belong you not to the night.

Grow in faith, love, and hope,

Strengthen you with My might.

 

Wear this armor of salvation

Always standing firm to the end.

Rejoice always, pray continually,

Give thanks in every circumstance.

 

In darkness, lost your innocence,

The first, cast away by the Light.

Look not back at fear and pain,

Keep your eyes ever on my light.

 

No more a victim, innocence lost.

No more a survivor staying ahead of the dark.

Forever more than a conqueror, our Lord declares.

Free and forever united with the Light, we wear His armor.

Amen.

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace to the end.

In all times and in every way, the Lord is forever within.

(Bible texts: 1 Thessalonians 5, 8, 16-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Romans 8:37-38)

Your Eyes

 

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

— Matthew 6:22-23

 

Your actual eyes guide your body and tell you which way to go. In comparison, your mind’s eye, which is informed by reason, desire, and spirit, tells a person what to do, whether good or bad. 

 

If your desires and reason are Holy Spirit led—your spirit agrees with and aligns with the Holy Spirit—then the light of the Spirit will lead you and fill you with His light and you will do good according to God’s will.

 

In contrast, if you desire to live contrary to God (in rebellion to Him and His good will for you), then your eyes—your mind, desire, and spirit—are bad and you will be full of darkness, which is rebellion against God and the good He has for you. Your bad eyes will lead you into darkness. That darkness is sin. That darkness is worse than bodily blindness. 

 

Lord, let me see with Your eyes. Let me not look at a day as bad or blah and then allow myself to be in a bad mood for lack of light. Whether there is light from sun, moon, and stars or not, You, Lord, have created weather, nature, and me to go through season, to change, and grow, and sometimes to die/cast away like the burning of leaves fallen from trees. You, Lord, can use any season and weather for growth in nature and in a person. Lord, grow me closer to you and to be more like you. Let not the weather, people, or circumstances dictate my outlook or mood, but You, Lord, use them to teach and grow me. You can use the sun to grow Your creation, but you also use clouds, rain, and snow to cause growth. Grow me today, Lord, for Your will and good purpose. Make the eyes by which I guide my life be Your eyes, Your Spirit in me and guiding me. Thank you for what You’re going to do today.

Rowing Without Paddles

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 [NASB])

In Genesis 15 and Psalm 91, both writers speak about the terror of night. What does this mean? For David, the man God appointed to lead His people, Israel, and a commander of an army, the terrors of night might have meant an army sneaking up and taking him and his army by surprise during the night. It could have meant the depression of the minds of his men as they awaited the battles of the next day. Or, in looking back on his life as King, it could have been the time David awaited his and Bathsheba’s son’s death. He feared it and understood the punishment was because of his sin with Bathsheba. David’s sin caused the death of the child. For Abram, the terrors of the dark night could have been the kings he and his allies defeated to get his nephew, Lot, out of captivity. The terrors that day showed his fear of not having an heir.

Terrors and fears begin in the hearts and minds of people. Satan puts the terrors and fears in our hearts and minds to distract us from the One who casts out darkness and brings light and truth to a situation and to life. Paul stated in 2 Corinthians that Satan “blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” In 2 Corinthians 11:14, he said, Satan must disguise himself as an angel of light to trick people, to “blind” them. Satan is not from the light of God; he is darkness and brings darkness.

This state of mind need not happen; people can avoid being tricked. How?  John said in 1 John 1:5, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness.” We can choose to follow God and have His power to defeat Satan and the darkness in which he tries to envelope us. God is more powerful than Satan and that is why Satan must resort to trickery. He knows the goodness and love of God will win people’s hearts and minds. John said in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” The darkness could not break through the light, but God’s light casts out darkness. Darkness cannot exist where light is.

What does this mean for us? How do we defeat the terrors of night and live the life for which God gave us the vision? With hope. With belief in God. Abram’s biggest fear as of Genesis 15 was that he would die with no heir. That was his darkness, the “terror of his night.” As Abram rested that night, God told him He would give him an heir and descendants too great to count, just like the stars in the heavens. Abram was in God’s presence. God’s Spirit came in the form of a smoking oven and flaming torch to seal His covenantal promise to Abram (Genesis 15:17). Abram dwelled in God’s presence and slept with His peace.

David defeated the terrors of the night and the arrows that flew by day by being in God’s presence, too. He said in Psalm 91:1, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” David had learned from experience that God was his refuge and fortress. He had learned to live in the presence, in the shadow, of Almighty God. David was like any other person born; he sinned. Still, David recognized God as His Lord and repented when he sinned. He trusted God over all things.

David knew from Whom to seek shelter, comfort, provision, guidance, and protection. He recognized Who was almighty. David had learned to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. He had learned to live in the shadow of God. David didn’t worship God on the sabbath then live the rest of the week solely in his own strength and with his own wisdom and reasoning. He had learned how to live while being with God. Abraham lived while being with God, too. These men recognized God as being sovereign over the world and over their lives. What terrors could defeat them? None, not with God as their strength, hope, refuge, and fortress.

What terrors haunt you? What causes you fear for your future or for now? If you are a Christian, you know Jesus as your Savior, the One who redeemed you from Satan and the power of sin and death. You already have the victory because Jesus has overcome the world. Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” When you are a Christian, you already have victory from the terrors of darkness and the arrows that fly by day. Remember that. Believe God will protect you and don’t allow the darkness of Satan to creep into your mind. If you aren’t a Christian, you can have this peace and hope. You can have redemption from sin and death and take refuge in God when Satan tries to force darkness upon you. Believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior who died for your sins, so you can have eternal life with Him in heaven. Give your terrors from the darkness to God and let Him be your light and refuge.

As we each live our lives and live the vision and calling God gives, we must live in His presence, under His wings. Don’t leave to do His work, instead do the work He calls you to do while you are with Him. Abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

You can’t row a boat without paddles. You can’t live life as God’s child without God.

God’s calling doesn’t mean we leave His presence to work.

It means working WITH Him.

Lord, I’m a mess. I say I am Your child, but then I later find I am not with You. I have walked off living my life by my own reasonings. In my busy-ness, I forgot to stay with You and live life with You as my guide, refuge, and strength. I trusted You with my life, but then I took it back. Lord, help me remember to live in Your presence, to live life as You lead and provide. You know all things and are all-powerful. I know only the small part of my life that is in front of me now. I cannot see the past or future and so I really don’t know how to live as You want me to live. Lord, forgive me for walking in my own way. Forgive me for taking control of my life. Forgive me for making my heart, mind, and body my gods instead of You. You are merciful and kind. You are faithful and continue to love me. Lord, I give my life to You. Please guide me with each breath I breathe and each beat of my heart. Amen.

Darkness and Holidays

Times can be hard. Life can be hard. Each person will face times of pain, separation, loneliness, despair, grief, and loss. These times seem to hit us hardest during holiday seasons. We each want to be joyful and cheery. We want to laugh, but the pain often overwhelms us. What should cause joy to erupt from us, holidays and celebrations, causes inner turmoil and pain. Tears easily come to our eyes as we think of that which assaults us.

Some people mean to be kind when they tell you, “Dig deep and you can overcome the problem.” Other people say you must put your mind to it and pull yourself out of the black, dark hole. Some people shake their heads and consider you a weak person for allowing yourself to stay in the miry bog. Satan wants you in that place. He pushes down on you, so you feel alone and overwhelmed with your pain, grief, loss, loneliness, despair, and separation.

When you dig deep within yourself, you can only go as deep as your own strength. We are human and only have mortal strength. Our strength is not overcoming strength. Putting your mind to the problem isn’t always enough. Our minds are fragile and not strong enough to overcome every pressure of life. We are human and so we are not strong enough to combat alone some of the troubles Satan throws at us. Yet, there is One who is stronger than anything or anyone who can come against you. God, the Creator of everyone and everything, is greater and stronger than anything the forces of darkness can hurl at you. None of us is strong enough to combat the arrows and darts of Satan all the time, but God is.

How does that help us while we are battling to stay afloat in the raging waters of our troubles? Because God is greater, stronger, more powerful, faithful, and loving, He wants to walk with us as we go through troubling times. Nothing can overpower God; He is immortal and omnipotent. Consider what Paul wrote to the Roman Christians in Romans 8: 28, 31, 33, 35, & 37-39,

²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?
³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, not depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [NASB]

Jesus is the Conqueror, and with Him as His disciples, we can overwhelmingly conquer whatever Satan hurls toward us. Consider, too, God said to seek Him, and He will be found. The Bible records God saying this many times: Jeremiah 29:12-14, 2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Deuteronomy 4:29, and Proverbs 8:17. Other scriptures passages state this, too. God tells us He is always available to us; we must seek Him with our whole being-our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

How can you get through your trials, troubles, and pain? Seek God. How do you seek God?

Pray. Humble yourself and seek Him. Ask Him to make Himself known to you. Tell Him your troubles, pain, and difficulties. Express your understanding that you cannot handle these alone. Give your troubles, your burdens to Him. Paul said in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” God already knows your situation, but when you come to Him in prayer, you humble yourself and recognize you are too feeble to fix the problem and God is almighty; He is able. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Listen for God’s guidance. Wait for Him and His relief. Lean fully on Him.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 [NASB]) God will be with you. He will walk with you through your hard times and give you His strength and peace for the journey.

Read the Bible. Added to praying, you can read the Bible, God’s Word, to hear from Him, to gain encouragement and guidance, and to know Him better. Through Scripture reading, God reminds you how He has worked in the past. He tells you how He wants you to live in the present. God assures you He walks with you through this current trouble, pain, and trial. Hear God’s words to Joshua and the Israelites in Joshua 1:5b. “I will not fail you or forsake you.” Consider Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave or forsake you.” David wrote in Psalm 46:10-11, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted over the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Over and over in the Bible, God reminds us He will be with us if we seek Him with our whole being. God loves each of us and wants to be your God, to guide you, give you strength, and remind you of the hope you have in Christ Jesus.

Pray again. After you’ve read God’s Word, and He’s brought to your mind His words and deeds of power and encouraged you, pray again. Pray thanking Him for His love, guidance, power, and faithfulness. Pray asking Him to give you His strength to get through your trials. Pray asking Him to help you keep your eyes on Him and not on your storm. Pray asking Him to fill you with His joy even in the midst of your troubles, pain, and trials. And, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, pray asking Him to save you from your sins and to give you new life in Him. God is always faithful to His children. He says He will always be found by those who seek Him with their whole being. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you, too, will be a child of God.

Other. Maybe prayer and reading the Bible is enough for you or possibly God has given you another voice by which to express yourself. Use that voice, whether in music, song, writing, dance, art, or whatever the medium to bring your cares before God, process His Word, and give Him your trust, your heart, and your trouble. Let that voice help give you release and relief by giving your cares to God. Express your faith in Him to walk with you through your hard time, and gain strength from Him-His faithfulness, love, and power. Consider how David felt in the midst of trials. He took them to God and lamented to God about his situation. Then he praised God for what He was doing and would do to bring him through those hard times. Consider Psalm 34. David began this psalm praising God. He then moved to acknowledging God comes to the aid of the righteous. David ended this psalm with this comforting thought in verse twenty-two, “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.” David and other righteous people throughout history have used this “other voice” God gave them as a gift to talk with God, process their own situations, and recall and resolve for themselves that God is good and is able to take care of all our needs, including walking with us through hard times. Besides crying out to God by your “other voice,” you can speak with a Christian pastor, elder, or other Christian. They can pray with you and help you carry your burdens to God while encouraging as you face your trying days.

During life’s holidays, troubles, pain, and trials can cause us to sink within ourselves and not celebrate. If we allow them, they will keep us in a vortex of darkness and anguish with no joy. God does not want us to go through these times alone. He gives us hope because He loves us. God is greater than anything that comes against us. Consider Mary. She became pregnant before Joseph laid with her. By law, Joseph could have broken the engagement. Mary must have been frightened about what the outcome might be. Yet, the angel told her not to fear. (Luke 1:30) Mary trusted God to make this situation of being pregnant outside of marriage work for good, God’s good. Joseph, when he learned Mary was pregnant, did not want to disgrace her because he was a righteous man. Because of this, he planned to send her away quietly so she would not have her reputation ruined. God sent a dream to Joseph in Matthew 1:20. In that dream, an angel of the Lord said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” Joseph gave his trouble and potential ruined reputation to God and trusted Him to make everything work out for the best. God chooses all His children for a purpose. He has a purpose for everyone. God’s purposes are always for the best. Had Mary or Joseph acted on their predicament without God’s intervention, she or he may have done good things according to the Law, but not what was best according to God.

God is here for each person who calls on Him with their whole being. His plans are best. God’s plan includes growing us to be more like Jesus and to be in a close relationship with Him. That can happen through hard times. It can happen in good times, too. Right now, if you are experiencing anguish, pain, loneliness, trials, grief, fear, or any other difficulty, don’t give up. Don’t isolate yourself and spiral down into the dark pit into which Satan wants to trap you. Let Him guide you and give you strength. Your hope, our hope, is in the Lord who made heaven and earth. This LORD God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born as a human on earth so He could die to give us salvation and an eternal relationship with Him. This is our hope. Jesus is our hope. If you are going through a hard time right now; turn to God. Pray. Read the Bible. Pray again. Use your “other voice” and bring it all to God. Seek a Christian friend or pastor to help you. Don’t let Satan take you down into the dark pit.

There is hope.

Jesus is the hope of the world.

And once more, Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-13 [NASB])

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 [NASB])

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 [NASB])

Oh, Lord, so often I have felt like I couldn’t go on. I felt like the dark vortex would swallow me and I wanted to give up. But then You, in Your great love for me and in Your faithfulness, reminded me of Who You are, what You’ve done, and how much You love me. Lord, You took me back to Your Word and showed me You have always been with Your children through the hard times, and, Lord, I know Your love never fails. You are faithful. Lord, forgive me for not coming to you sooner. Forgive me for giving up on the hope You provide because of the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. Lord, I promise I will always walk with You. Please walk with me now through this dark trial. Grow me to be like Your Son and to be in a closer relationship with You because of this trial. Lord, keep reminding me of the hope You give and fill me with Your Spirit so that Your joy is my strength. Help me have joy and rejoice even when I am going through darkness because of who You are. You are my strength and shield. You are my fortress and my very present help in times of trouble. Thank you, Lord for what You’ve done. Thank you for what You will do in my situation and in me. Thank you for being faithful even when I lost hope and felt forsaken. Thank you for not letting go of me when I let go of You. I love you, Lord. Amen.

Dispelling Darkness

In the shroud of winter’s darkest night, before the first peek of sun’s light filters through the drape of day, hope seems to have been washed out and uncertainty appears to blanket wishful dreams. Fears and nightmares assault the mind causing body to tighten with anticipation of what it cannot fathom. Yet nothing is new under sun or moon when life’s final embers crackle, fizzle, and scar. The last grasping at what once was, the last scrabbling for lost life, gives way to submission and abandon as reality assaults the senses. Time nears its end; mortality awaits all men. A hush falls upon the whole self, a sense of unreality and disbelief.

The fighting and feinting from recent past years now ends as understanding and forlornness rise to reign in whole being. The grudging acceptance of inevitable passing of time, of heartbeat, of breath reveals the new reality. The dust of this one’s future began its last steps, its last breaths, its last thoughts.

Around the corner lies the creeping certain ceaseless canceling of creation – corporeal collapse.

The mental assault of its reality never more real than in the darkest moment of winter’s night. The hope of last sun’s rays rupturing the drapes of life soon drifts dizzily down when mind assaults that hope with the certainty of eternality’s nearness. With sudden gasp, this new and imminent reality rears its intention and nothingness makes its inevitability understood; this one’s time soon ends. Grasping and scrabbling ends. Acceptance begins to dawn within.

Still, silently biding its time comes a knowledge beyond all knowledge, beyond all reason. An understanding hard to acknowledge and accept by many until this time of nebulous in-between-ness becomes the inevitability. This oft pushed-aside reality, knowledge, and belief eases itself forward from the recesses of memory. This memory reminds of power, knowingness, and ever-presence. As it advances forward from mind’s recessive memory, a glimmer of hope, a glimpse of future, a gasping of possibility captures the remnants of corporeal body’s spirit and brightly shines hope, anticipation, and expectation. “Oh, what was that?” this one so near to winter’s eternal darkness asks? “What was that news told to me during Spring’s bright and hope-filled dawning?”

The grinding of old, unoiled wheels turns recalling from memory what someone said. The feeling of possibility springs forward giving last glimpses of hope before life’s final dawn fades away. “What was that news?” the spirit begs mind to recall. Picking through worthless words, actions, and thoughts, “There, move that detritus; I see a glorious shining!” Scrambling through stacks of senseless moments and memories, the unheard, unheeded, and unknown shines brighter until that Word is revealed in the bank of life’s detritus. The one Hope disregarded in the dizzying dance of life still shone dazzlingly even amidst forgotten goals, games, and gambits. Gazing upon this unheeded memory, this long-forgotten message, hope springs, heart sings, head soars with the light of possibility of new dawn.

This Hope, this Message, this Word unheeded still, but recognized as the One not to be missed parts the winter’s darkness giving glimpses at possible eternal gazing upon the Light during the non-time of eternity. Grasping, listening, learning, accepting, hope eternal rises as the sun of summer in the heart. Belief beats breath-takingly as winter’s dark night fades into gray as the Light of the world breaks into the midst of time’s sway bringing brilliance and wondrous joy.

Where once inevitable ending reigned in heart, mind, and body, now hope and life unending spring forth bringing bounteous joy and eternal life with the One Who is beyond all constraints, Who loves unrestrainedly, and gives life eternally because of His faithful love.

Who wants the misery and despair of winter’s shroud? Who chooses that option when Hope and Light from the eternal Spring is available? Hear the message. Believe the Truth. Walk in the way. Accept the gift of love given so that all who believe can have eternal life. No winter’s dark night ever casts its shroud upon it. No nothingness ever penetrates this glorious eternal kingdom of God. Hear. Believe. Be saved from the darkness of eternal death.

Come see and believe in the hope of the Gentiles.

Come believe and receive the God of hope.

Then in that day, the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to Him, and the land where He lives will be a glorious place. (Isaiah 11:10 [NLT])

Isaiah said, ‘The heir to David’s throne will come, and He will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on Him.’ I pray that the God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-13 [NLT])

Medieval Ages, Movie Plots, and Mind Games

     

  I had the opportunity to see a movie last night. No one went with me because I needed personal space after having people at my house for the last two weeks. Being just one of two introverts in my house right now, space was a necessity for me. Three of the other people in the house are extreme extroverts and all that brings with it. Anyway, I looked at the movie listings and read the reviews and the bios on the movies. None really tempted me; however, one had reviews from people I know so I thought, “Why not, let’s go.” Off I went to what was supposed to be a remake of a popular fairy tale. I had seen the other director’s version of this same fairy tale last month, which left me enchanted (both meanings apply). The movie started, blood dripped from a finger, a child was born, a parent died, a father became enamored then killed, and a child was orphaned. So began this fairy tale. Next, enter the darkness. 

        What ensued next was a plethora of all the dark images moviegoers have faced over the last 12 years at theatres and on DVD. Witches made an entrance. Battles began. Blood spilled. Nature turned dark. Manhunts took the viewers on an escape or capture of the “good” person, and life after escape and capture began. Moviegoers then were taken on a journey in the view of the “hero” to see how life for them was now that they were embroiled in this battle of good versus evil. Would the heroine/hero escape and win the day (the battle) or would the witch/wizard rule the kingdom (the watcher’s universe) for eternity? This particular fairy tale, the director’s version, was about 1 ½ hours of evil and battles by an unbeatable army - fear and death. The story was not about a happy-ever-after event but about the time between beginning and end.

            This plot has been played out repeatedly and increasingly since the beginning of the Harry Potter series. The fascination people have with “darkness” and witches/wizards has led readers and moviegoers to be drawn toward this genre. Back when the above series first began, some people said, “Allowing our children to read these books promotes witchcraft and wizardry.” Many people bellowed back, “It did not.” Many people laughed at them that nothing of that kind could happen. Yet I have seen the fascination of these dark stories with evil, wizards, and witches become very important in the lives of people throughout the world. Yes, evil has existed on earth since the fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). My point is that our fascination by these genres and stories has made people seek them out. It has made dark stories more acceptable (what Satan wants) and, thus, allowed it to make inroads into our lives. Preteens, teens and adults read vampire and witch stories and are fascinated by stories set in medieval times, times when sorcery was prevalent and where Christianity was not taught to the masses. Christianity was kept to the priests and performed by the priests for the congregants’ sakes. Witchcraft and sorcery were strictly prohibited by the LORD God. These and worshipping false gods God called an abomination. You can read it in Deuteronomy (12:2, 16:21, 18:9-14), Leviticus (19:31 & 20:27), and Galatians 5:19-21. God abolished them because they were detestable and would distract and lead the children of God from worshipping Him exclusively to worshipping other gods (those manufactured by Satan).
 

The medieval times were called the Dark Ages for a reason. Satan was working hard amidst humanity to lead it astray before the Gospel became prevalent and spread worldwide. Fascination with wizards, brought about because of books with characters who were witches and wizards, has intrigued humanity so much they began delving into the Middle Ages. Should we not learn that foremost what occurred during the medieval ages should be a lesson to us? We should not to go backward but forward into the future with hope and with the salvation plan God has given us? We should be stronger in our faith than the people of the Middle Ages by now. We have had the opportunity of over 500 years distance to learn how to be strong against evil and how to have a relationship with Jesus, not to allow the priest to be the “go-between” for us. We should not allow Satan to distract us from the LORD with fascination about witches and wizards. Yet we are drawn to this age, to the darkness, maybe under the ruse we are studying it, but we are drawn to it. Shouldn’t we think that Satan would love to use our curiosity against us to plant ideas in our minds. These ideas then would make us start accepting the culture of the people of the Middle Ages again under the pretext that all people have a right to live according to their will. Curiosity about the gods of Canaan by the Israelites was why the LORD God told them to destroy the places of worship they found in the Promised Land when they entered it to possessed it. The curiosity of humankind and then rationalization are what leads us to probe and consider the ways of others that do not follow the Lord.

        If we find ourselves saying, “We must be tolerant of all,” does that include people who choose a lifestyle from that dark time even though we see by hindsight what it did to the people of that age? That lifestyle is counter to the one the Father has taught us since that then. How much can we challenge people about that lifestyle they are trying to live for themselves? Wicca and pagan cults have seen a large increase in their numbers over the last 15 years. From 1990 until 2001, the membership of Wicca and pagan cults more than doubled in the US and around the world. Wicca was the seventh largest organized religion in the US as of 2001. Another survey in 2008 found this number had doubled again[i]. Wiccans do not stay in hiding much anymore but are becoming more visible. We must challenge these beliefs and then stand up for ours and teach ours to our children and the next generations.

In the Crusades of the Dark Age, this religious battle occurred as Christian against Muslim and Christians against witches and wizards. Alternative religions continuously juxtapose to Christianity and people today consider them acceptable religions. “All religions are thought to be right for everyone because all people will eventually get to heaven,” some people say. Others say the contrary, “Only one religion is right so each religious group must fight for the right to be the “true” religion.” When do we step out and say, “Stop, this is going backwards in our religious growth and maturity?” When will we understand that this fascination with medieval times, wizards and witches, and religious warfare actually opens the door to bring the thoughts and actions of the Dark Ages back into existence? At what point do we realize we have opened a door that should have remained closed? This is no longer a fascination we are feeding, but a battle we are waging for the minds, hearts, and souls of those who live today and of our descendents.  We must be accountable to our future generations.

This story could be about a “happily-ever-after” if we would open our eyes, which Satan wants to be closed and darkened, and see that history is repeating itself. It is not futile and hopeless. We have a Champion of the historical story, of the plot of humanity. We must let Jesus Christ become our Savior and Champion. He will not come to our aid unless we allow Him; He does not storm in. Yet if we can see beyond the darkness in which Satan has enveloped us by the ruse of fascination, we can open the door we have allowed Satan to shut. We can open the door to Jesus, our Champion. We do not have to walk backwards in time and re-live the darkness of the Dark Age. We can walk forward knowing the battle is won. There is a Champion. The days and times do not have to be dark. We can live in victory today. Because Jesus is the conqueror of death and Satan, we can also be more than conquerors through Him (Romans 8:31-39). Jesus is our “happily-ever-after.”

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[i]  http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_nbr3.htm