FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Think about where all Christians were before they placed their belief in Jesus. They are scary thoughts indeed and today there are still millions who are unsaved and in that place.

What does that place look like?

As we look at verse 13 from Colossians, chapter 1, we find the Apostle Paul sum it up well. He calls the place where unbelievers abide “the dominion of darkness”.

This place of darkness is one that is void of light. That’s what makes anyplace dark in the first place. And since God is light (John 1:5) and Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12) then we can ascertain that the “dominion of darkness” is a place where neither God nor Jesus exist. We can further say that nothing good happens in the darkness which is another way of saying that it’s also the dominion of sin.

Indeed, look at the scriptures and there is nothing favorable attributed to living in the dark. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul commands them respectively to “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness” (5:11) and identifies some of these behaviors as sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking, and idolatry (Vv. 3-5). He also demands that the Roman believers “put aside the deeds of darkness” (13:12).

Have you ever tried to walk through a place that is utterly dark?

It’s impossible (and even a bit scary) because you can’t see where you are going. From a spiritual perspective, the sinner can’t see they are standing on the wide road that leads to destruction by way of God’s eternal judgment. Their destination is Hell and its associated everlasting damnation and torment.

Conversely, when we choose to believe in Jesus as Savior, we are rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the light, rescued from perishing and assured eternal life. We are “brought into the kingdom of the Son” (Jesus) who God loves and through Christ we “have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”. The prophet Isaiah foretold this in advance of Jesus’ coming:

“...people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (9:2).

Jesus Himself would then say:

“Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

He then states the painful reality of things, then and now:

Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

Today, we all have a choice.

We can choose to continue living in the dominion of darkness, staying in love with sin and the evil it manifests while accepting the eternal punishment in Hell that comes with it.

or

We can choose to believe in Jesus as Savior, opt for light instead of darkness, and be rescued by God through His Son who brings redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and the guarantee of Heaven and eternal life.

I can say with complete certainty that you will make no greater decision in your life than this and I pray with all my heart that you choose Jesus.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com