“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness….I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
~John 12:46, John 8:12

Oh how blessed we are that Jesus Christ is our Light in a world growing increasingly dark.

I was grieved last week as ISIS released an incredibly shocking video depicting a Jordanian pilot being torched alive in a cage.  Once utterly charred, a jihadist-clad bulldozer operator dumped rubble on the 26-year-old, crushing the man and the cage, and forever denying the pilot’s family the opportunity of a decent, honorable burial.

Since last spring’s rampage through Iraq, ISIS has brutally murdered those who don’t embrace the same darkness they do.  And now posting horrific videos, to make matters worse.  (The latest video was professionally produced, and was slick as well as sick.) In addition, children are sold as slaves, crucified, and buried alive by these madmen.  The actions of ISIS, labeled a “JV team” by our President, are not only barbaric, but satanic as well.  Depravity of this magnitude comes from only one place: the pit of hell.

The Bible calls Satan the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), ruler of this world (John 12:31), and god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).   I don’t like that…how about you?  But rest assured: God is still sovereign.  Because of sin’s curse, our Sovereign God has allowed Satan to operate in this world within the boundaries God has set for him.  For example, believers of Jesus (Christians) are never under the dominion of Satan, as we have been delivered from the domain of darkness into the light of Jesus Christ.  (Colossians 1:13)  Satan’s authority is confined to unbelievers who are held captive in the snare of the devil (2 Timothy 2:26), and who lie in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).  Satan rules over the unbelieving world and, because he knows his end is near, he is putting on a full court press.

We are seeing that displayed before our very eyes.  ISIS is not the first, nor the only “unbelieving world” through which Satan works.  However, I can’t think of a more vivid example in today’s world of true evil manifesting itself in such obvious fashion.

But dear saints, God has been shining His light from before time began, and will continue to shine it, though darkness does not comprehend it!  Check this out:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it…. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
~John 1:1-5, 14 [Emphasis mine]

Do you see it?  Perhaps this will help:

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
~2 Corinthians 4:6 [Emphasis mine]

Jesus, the Light of the world, came “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”  (Acts 26:18)

Do you see the contrast?  God allows unadulterated evil in this world to remove the gray.  Evil is dark, Jesus is Light.  We must move toward the Light!  Often on this blog you are exhorted to pray…pray for the peace of Jerusalem, pray for a great awakening, pray for wisdom of world leaders, etc.  But, this is a call to a different action.

Believers, what we see today are signs of the times.  The last days are upon us and Jesus could return at any time.  Two things are clear:

• Believers must walk in the Light in order to be ready for His return, and
• There are people we know who are headed for eternity in hell unless they turn to the Light.

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
~1 John 1:5-10 [Emphasis mine]

Finally, my encouragement to you:

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
~1 John 2:12-14

God’s Word speaks, and I know there is a word here for someone.  Why not shine the Light by passing this on to encourage others!

Shalom, my friends!