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In
the Dark
Some years ago a family
visited a cave in the state of Kentucky. One of the parents wrote about
their experience: “The guide led us through many beautiful and winding
subterranean passageways. Suddenly
he turned off all the lights and said, ‘I'm the only one who knows how
to get back to the entrance. If
I left you here, you'd probably never find your way out.
Anyone lost in this cave would no doubt become insane within a week
from the oppressive loneliness. Be
quiet for a moment and feel the darkness!’ I remember my youngster
clutching my arm. After about
30 seconds, someone in the party could endure it no longer and cried out,
‘Turn on the lights! I'm going crazy now!’
The guide laughed, but we'll not soon forget that frightening
experience.”
Abiding in darkness can
be a frightening experience indeed – especially if one considers the
concept of "darkness"
as revealed in the Scriptures.
In the Bible,
“darkness” often represents immorality:
“The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside
the works of darkness, and put on the armor
of light” (Romans 13:12; see also Ephesians 5:11).
“Darkness” also represents ignorance:
“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks
in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35).
Ultimately, those who continue in ignorance and immorality will be
cast into “outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30), a description
of punishment.
Yet, one does NOT have to LIVE and DIE in
darkness…
Bob Woods, in Pulpit
Digest, tells the story of a couple who took their son, 11, and
daughter, 7, to Carlsbad Caverns. As always, when the tour reached the
deepest point in the cavern, the guide turned off all the lights to
dramatize how completely dark and silent it is below the earth’s
surface. The little girl, suddenly enveloped in utter darkness, was
frightened and began to cry. Immediately was heard the voice of her
brother:
“Don’t cry! Somebody here knows how to turn on the lights.”
In a real sense, that
is the message of the GOSPEL: Light is available, even when darkness seems
overwhelming.
Jesus said,
"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). Jesus commissioned
Paul to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles: “to
open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and
an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts
26:18).
Those who believe
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10) and
are baptized
(immersed) into Christ are delivered
by Christ from the power of darkness and brought into the kingdom of
Christ, the church (Colossians 1:13).
Then, one must CONTINUE to walk in the light of His Word in order
to CONTINUE to enjoy the blessings of the kingdom (Ephesians 5:8; 1 John
1:7).
Are
YOU in the
Dark? Come to the Light -- JESUS
CHRIST -- through your trusting obedience.
David
A. Sargent, Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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