Devotional: Darkness is Abounding

Darkness is Abounding

I once heard Charles Capps, speaking on an audio cd, say, "The same God who gave us $1.00 per gallon for gas will give us $3.00 per gallon." I believed him, and it has since been proven. We survived the gas crisis, and although some say another is coming, I am not worried. God is not an absentee-father.

Likewise, we must stand firm and believe God's glory will always be greater than any prevailing darkness. I have often said, "As evil abounds, we shall also see God's glory abound." The contrast between darkness and light is stark. In fact, scientists agree that darkness in and by itself does not exist -- darkness is simply the absence of light. Many inventions have been created with the purpose of adding light to our world, such as the common lightbulb, flashlights, and immense stadium lights. However, you will not find an invention for darkness. The closest thing you will find is a dimmer switch or a power disconnection- both of which only remove light thus creating darkness.

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1-2). If God's glory represents light, then the absence of God's glory is darkness. God's Word Translation says, "Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned. Darkness now covers the earth, and thick darkness covers the nations. But the Lord dawns, and his glory appears over you." The darkness that covers the earth is the absence of God's light shining in and through the hearts of people.

Jesus once declared, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). His words confirmed what the author had already stated: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:4-5). The life of Jesus in the heart of man is light. And this light overcomes darkness. Darkness was not created - it exists only when light is removed. Therefore when the light shines, darkness falls prey to its power - not visa-versa.

Now consider the contrasting statement Jesus made in His sermon on the mount. "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). Really? Yes, this is now true. The light, which was Jesus, abides in the heart of every believer and therefore transforms them into beacons of light. This light is designed to overtake the darkness. "Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people {those without the Light}; but the Lord will arise over you {those who carry His Light}, and His glory will be seen upon you." This would explain why Jesus said, "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Darkness appears to be abounding - and it is.

Just as the removal of light results in darkness, so the removal of truth results in deception. The nations of the earth have yielded themselves to darkness and deception simply because they have refused the Light and Truth.

Yet the glory of God is abounding also - in the hearts and lives of those yielded to Him.

And His glory is not without purpose. "Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned. Darkness now covers the earth, and thick darkness covers the nations. But the Lord dawns, and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings will come to the brightness of your dawn" (Isaiah 60:1-3). I believe Christians are just now embarking on their true mission. How would nations and kings know where to find the light unless the removal of light (the existence of darkness) first prevailed and revealed their need for light?

Many of us (myself included) have thought our mission was already deployed. Yet in truth, these deployments have been practice missions to prepare us for the one we have now entered. The light was given to us. We carried it and sometimes dropped it. But in our struggles, we learned how to carry the light against opposition. Now with the wind in our face, and the threat of darkness snuffing out our light, we must press forward. Those who cheated and did not adequately prepare during the practice mission will face difficulty ahead like none have known before. There will be a great temptation to stop pressing against the wind of darkness. And unfortunately, in some cases, there will be those who not only stop but also turn their back to the wind allowing it to extinquish their light. These will then fall prey to the power of darkness and deception and will be used to fight their brethren who continue to carry the light.

What is our responsibility as Christians? We must... "Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept us—rise to new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us" (Amplified)! Darkness exists when the light is removed, but by the same token, darkness is removed when the light is present. We must, at all cost, continue to carry the light into the darkness. We must not believe that darkness will prevail. IT CAN NOT! Darkness is overcome by the light. One brave soul carrying the light into places of evil shines hope where despair once existed. Now is not the time to draw back. "You are of God, little children, and have overcome {the darkness}, because {the LIGHT} in you is greater than the {darkness} in the world" (I John 4:4). Go Shine!