WE ARE THE LIGHT FOR THE FEARFUL IN THE DARK WORLD AROUND US
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Ons is die Lig vir die bevreesdes in die donker wêreld om ons.”
I would like to share with you the following thought that came to my mind when I listened to people’s conversations.
Many people around me today look around them and then become depressed about the future and what they have to deal with in their lives and that is, what so many people will then tell you, very human – but do you know as a child of God, we can happily remind ourselves who and what we are and if we truly believe it, then the negative things become perfectly manageable.
Let me explain:
We are Christians, followers of Jesus Christ. People who are just traveling through this world are on their way to a glorious future.
We read:
ROM 8:15-17
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
I mentioned that we are on our way to a glorious future, a future that will last forever:
ROM 8:18-21
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Therefore, it is too wonderful to read the following from our Lord’s precious Word – and remember as you read it, that these are God’s confirmed written Word which He give to you on black and white:
2 COR 4:17-18
17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen (that is, among other things, the senseless dark circumstances around us) but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Therefore, with His Spirit in us, we can face the world around us, to put it this way, and witness with His power and certainty in our hearts:
First, we know:
2COR 4:6-9
6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
With that certain knowledge in us, we can then testify with great certainty:
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
Now remember in the future that always, especially for the child of our Lord, the good will always come out of the bad/difficulties.
Just think of this:
If there had not been a good Friday where the dread of the crucifixion took place, there would not have been an Easter Sunday where Jesus rose from the dead and killed death for you and me forever and opened the way to heaven for you and me.
So, do not be discouraged by the darkness you see around you.
Rather read our Lord's Word regularly, the Light in the way for you and remember the light for now and in the future that He show you – and then let us remember that we are here on earth for two main reasons:
First to glorify our Lord and then let us remember our purpose in this life:
MAT 5:14-16
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
As you now read Matthew 5:14-16, it is also good to remember that in addition to saving the people of this world – what the other main reason was why Jesus came to earth:
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (and Jesus come to complete what He began in His great love on Calvary.)
Do you remember how Jesus showed us from the Word that He was the Messiah who would come and then told us what He had to do before He had to walk to Calvary?
LUK 4:17-21
17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21 And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Come, let you and I live out our main calling here on earth – through our testimony and especially through our lives, on our way to our eternal abode with Jesus:
MAT 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Firstly, we are here on earth on a journey to our eternal life with Jesus, glorifying Him through our lives.
Secondly, we are here on earth on a journey to our eternal destiny by preaching His gospel that He began to preach as He teach us in His Word to preach it.
We should not be afraid of the darkness in the world around us.
We must be the light for the fearful in the dark world around us.
Greetings,
Sakkie