Skip to main content

Dark and Light

            When you look out at the world, what do you see?
            Some see nothing but trouble and pain.  They point to things like poverty, crime, problems with drugs and alcohol and marriage break-ups and say that the world is full of sadness and sorrow.  Watch the news for even a half hour and you will get the idea that the world is a dark place.
            Others see nothing but good.  They appreciate generous people in their community.  They think about their friends and neighbours and smile.  They marvel at the beauty of sunrises and stars at night.  To them, the world is a bright and wonderful place.
            You may be surprised that the Bible supports both of these world views.  On one hand it says things like, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:15-16).  On the other hand, it says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son” (John 3:16).
            So which is it?  Is the world around us a bad and horrible place, or is it a place of beauty and joy?
            The answer, of course, is “both!”  Focusing on one extreme or the other will bring you to the wrong conclusion.
            If we say that there is no “darkness”, then we pretend that there is nothing to worry about and that everyone is safe.  However, scripture teaches that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and that sin separates us from God (Ephesians 2:1).  We have to face that reality.
            On the other hand, if we say there is no “light”, then give up because there is no hope.  That can’t be right, though, because the entire message of the gospel is centred on the hope of new beginnings.  As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  That is hopeful!
            Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
            Our job, then, is to recognize the darkness and shine the light.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hello! I've been following your site - - for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout
out from Austin Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic job!
July 23, 2015 at 5:07 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Consider This: Who Needs Worship?

  Why does God need our worship? The events of Matthew 14 provide at least one answer.   This chapter starts with the beheading of John the Baptist (verses 1-12). This is the first in a series of events that indicate things are about to become much more difficult for the believers. Next, the scene shifts to a crowd gathered on a hillside in Galilee. After listening to Jesus teach all day, the apostles realized that these people had nothing to eat. They brought the problem to Jesus. He took a child’s lunch and fed the entire group of five thousand men plus women and children. Afterwards, they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers (verses 13-21).   Then Jesus told them to get in a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee. As they went, a storm arose, and the apostles were scared. They struggled along until Jesus came to them walking on the water. Peter tried walking on the water too and sank. After Jesus rescued Peter, they got into the boat, and the storm immediately s...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Spiritual Makeover (1 Peter 1:13-16)

 Three responses to the new life God has given us.  https://youtu.be/FmqX5-3jOKc  
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This: Something to Hold On To

      If you have never stopped to see the Swinging Bridge in Souris, Manitoba, you should add it to your list of things to do. I like it. Others do not. It feels wobbly. It bounces up and down. I have seen people in the middle of the bridge holding on and screaming because it feels too unstable. Of course, there is nothing to fear. The bridge has huge anchors at each end and is secured by steel cables, but sometimes, our feelings make us forget the facts. Peter knows that his readers are about to face some scary situations. He does not want their feelings to obscure everything else, so he outlines three truths they need to remember. First, their hope is greater than their troubles. “For a little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold… may be proved genuine and result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Not...
Post a Comment
Read more