The Line in the Sand

Inevitably, in this world, there is darkness and there is light. Like a line in the sand choices are before us. We can glorify the light or the darkness. According to Isaiah 60 there will be great darkness upon the earth, but the glory of the Lord will arise upon believers. We are encouraged to arise and shine as brilliant lights in the midst of the darkness. This is wonderful news that brings tremendous hope. The gospel means good news, and this is good news!

Many of us listen daily to an onslaught of troublesome news. From the recent uprisings in northern Africa to the troubles in the Mid-east, there is no shortage of sad news around the world. Rightly so, there should be concern about the trouble – about the dark things we deal with in our world. However, some people choose to go to another level and are singing their dirge about the darkness. Others believe that the worse the world becomes, the more it fulfills prophecy and the closer the exit (rapture) is. Very little needs to happen to cause someone to say, “The end is getting nearer.” The end times began in the book of Acts and we are still here.

The healthiest thing we can do is put all the scriptures together. As the first three verses of Isaiah 60 speak of the darkness and the light, we realize there will be both. To recognize only one is unbalanced. As much as I glorify the light, I am not in denial that there is darkness out there. Those who glorify the darkness consistently focus on and talk about the darkness. For them, there is the need to recognize the power of light. We need to understand that it is the supreme will of God to invade darkness with light.

The Genesis story opens with darkness upon the earth. It is followed by the intrusion of light to restore all that we see and enjoy today. The Genesis story is about restoration, as God tells man to replenish the earth. God had penetrated the darkness and now man could enjoy the replenishing of the earth. It’s like God taking us into a totally dark house and turning on the lights. He then instructs us to fill it up as He provides everything we can dream of or envision for that house. The continuing result is a beautiful, purposeful, profitable, workable home. Is not this a parable of the earth?

This understanding must also be applied to our personal lives. In the most simple or worst of problems we can glorify the problem or glorify the solution. The choice is ours. The outcome is changeable. Negative energy in a room is a hard atmosphere for faith to flourish. I figure that is why Jesus put most everyone out of the room when He raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead (see Mark 5:37). Peter followed the same example when he raised Dorcas from the dead (see Acts 9:40). I often feel more liberty and power to pray and proclaim healing over a sick person as I ride down the highway after I leave the hospital. Negative energy will cripple the atmosphere. Jesus did not do many miracles in some towns because of the unbelief. Yet, He readily helped anyone who cried out, “Lord, help my unbelief!” It is understandable that we may struggle with unbelief but we must not glorify the adverse circumstances and revel in negativity. There is a difference.

A central theme that weaved itself into sermons in the late 70’s in the Appalachian Mountains was escapism. This theme taught us to believe that things would get worse and worse until the Lord came to rapture us out of the mess. Using the Revelation church letters to back up the idea, it was proposed that we were the Laodicean church age. We were supposed to be the generation that Jesus would come back for and receive as His bride. What was wrong with that picture? In reality, who would want a bride that looked like that? It would be like a noble bride coming down the aisle in a feed sack dress and barefooted. This is a mockery of the desire and will of God.

The bride of Christ will not be mocked. He is dressing us up as a glorified Bride. Speaking of this, the scripture tells us, “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:27) In Peter’s second sermon recorded in Acts, he says this about the return of Christ, “whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” (Acts 3:21, 22)

We will not leave earth as a beaten-up-by-the-darkness bride. We will be united with our most awesome Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, in victory. We will be smiling, shouting, dancing, triumphant… not just because of His return, but because it has become our lifestyle. We have learned to dance in the darkness until the lights come on. We have learned to trade our sorrow for joy. We have traded our ashes for garland. We have a mantle of praise instead of depression. We have chosen to glorify the light instead of the darkness.

The line that has been drawn in the sand is there for us to make a choice. We can easily step across the line – out of negativity and into faith. We can continue to send off negative energy and thoughts and thereby hinder the advancement of the kingdom of God. Yet on the other hand, we can arise and become light in the midst of darkness. The choice is ours. The choice needs to be made quickly. For those who choose to ignore the power of light there is the greatest possibility of falling into a dark delusion. This happens in Romans 1 as Paul describes how certain people choose not to recognize God and therefore fall into great delusion. I am sensing the danger of this more than I ever have. I talk to people who see no danger in their continual flood of negative conversations. To some, this very negativity seems to be the passion of their life. Others seem to be unable to rise above it and even feel guilty if they experience happiness. People’s minds have been brainwashed so long into believing that they are unworthy of being blessed that blessings are accompanied by extreme guilt. What a trap! We can step across the line. We can choose to allow Him the tender precious process of transforming our minds.

What greater way to recognize God than to recognize Him as love and light? Jesus said He was the light of the world in one place and then He said that we – believers – are the light of the world. Together, with Him, we are light. Glorify the light. Recognize the darkness – even great darkness, but only perceive the darkness as an element in a great adventure… an adventure in which to carry the light. Carry your light. Go into the darkness… and we will share the testimony in eternity.