Dear Brethren,
Did you see the full moon last night? That means that we are one month away from the Feast of Tabernacles. And before that, we will observe the Feast of Trumpets on Monday, September 30, 2019 and the Day of Atonement on Wednesday, October 9th.
As Christians, we are continuously in search of the Truth. It is a lifetime pursuit. It is only the word of God that contains the way of truth.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 8:32 You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
It is only God’s truth that sets us free from the shackles of this deceived world. We are seriously warned not to make the mistake of putting darkness for light, and vice versa. Many who think they are saints – are still walking in darkness. When Jesus came, He brought the truth of God to a dark world void of spiritual understanding. The light He ushered in is the wisdom of God that represents His perfect way that leads to life eternal.
Man, without God’s truth, will always stumble in the dark because of his ignorance of God’s perfect way. Man must drink of the fountain of life—Jesus Christ.
Psalm 36:8-9 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house; and thou shall make them drink of the river of your pleasures. For with you is the fountain of life: in your light we shall see light.
Jesus informed the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah and the true fountain of life. He said:
John 4:14 Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the [living] water that I shall give him shall be in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
There is a way to come out of the darkness and into the light of God. Are we sure that we know what God conveys to us when He speaks mystifyingly to us of darkness and light? The Prophet Isaiah helped develop the Biblical concept that light is associated with goodness, while darkness is synonymous with wickedness. Isaiah introduces the contrasting dichotomy of walking in light as opposed to walking in darkness in:
Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Light represents the perfect characteristics of God – while darkness signifies the absence of Godliness. Light is used to symbolize God, His wisdom, and holiness, as well as many other of His attributes. Light represents the upright characteristics of God. It symbolizes God, His justice and goodness, among His many other attributes. God is spiritual radiant light. God’s essence is of light. The definition of Light is—Jesus Christ. John tells us, “He is the Light.”
On the other hand, darkness epitomizes the vile and contemptible aspects associated with the absence of Godliness. The world does not know that it lies in spiritual darkness. Darkness has to do with sin, ungodliness and Satan.
The theme of Darkness to Light opens with darkness in Genesis 1:2 and runs through the entirety of the Bible to the very last chapter of the Book where we read in Revelation 22:5, “The Lord God gives them light.” This topic’s importance is shown by the emphasis it receives by being cited time and again throughout the pages of the Scriptures. Immediately, in Genesis, God began developing the contrasting concepts of light and darkness.
Genesis 1:1-4 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth became without form [‘tohu’], and void [‘bohu’]; and darkness [‘choshek’] was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
We learned that tohu meant a desolate wasteland, and that bohu meant a shapeless devastation – but we did not reflect as much on choshek which means a miserable darkness – an ink-black darkness – or worse!
Only truly converted Church brethren are able to walk in light at this time. We must come out of darkness entirely and walk in the light. Unless our righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, and our life’s motivation is singularly on God’s perfect way, we are doomed. In the Millennium, Jesus will establish the Kingdom of God on earth where all men will be able to enjoy God’s glory shining upon them. God prophesied through Isaiah of the glorious millennial day when converted men and women will Rise and Shine:
Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glorious splendor of the Lord is risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall shine upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Your brother in Christ,
