There is much going on in our world at the moment that can cause you to wonder “how can people believe that?” and “how did we get to this place?”, “how can that happen?”. This week my wife and I were talking about such matters in the news of the day and she posed such a question. I took her Romans 1:18-25 and following. We talked about it in the light of our culture, and I thought of some other scripture as well. But such “understandings” and rejection of truth come as the result of just judgment from Him that results in His removal of favor and leads to a hardening of heart to truth that comes by entertaining and embracing concupiscence (strong desire) over the knowledge of Him.
[Romans 1:18-25 NASB95] 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Their foolish heart was darkened….
If you have access to a concordance, and particularly a digital concordance through an online Bible site (my favorite is Blue Letter Bible – shameless plug) perhaps one of the most interesting word studies you can do is to look at “light(s)” and “darkness” in the scriptures. There are so many interesting, even intriguing, avenues of thought opened up by the addressing of these subjects in the word of God, revealing Him and His mind in the Spirit.
In Genesis 1 we find that darkness was on the face/surface of the deep, and the very first thing God spoke into creation was light separating ,or dividing, darkness from light.
[Genesis 1:2-4 KJV] 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that [it was] good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
From that point on the relationship between darkness and light is established. Darkness cannot hold back light, but light dispels darkness every time and in every place it is applied to it. Where God is there is light. He brings it into existence. If, or when he withdraws it, darkness can and will prevail.
I have often shared that everyone knows John 3:16 which contains the good news in a verse. But few know verses 17 and 18, which make it clear that Jesus did not come to judge the world, but to lift it out of judgment it is/was already under. Believing in Him is the only way out of that judgement
[John 3:16-18 NASB95] 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged ALREADY (emphasis added), because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
But here, I will also estimate that even fewer know what that judgment was or came from although Jesus again makes it very clear in this discussion with Nicodemus as one of His first expositions of His gospel.
[John 3:19-21 NASB95] 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Judgment had fallen because men loved darkness! Not just fell into or sort of unintentionally chose darkness. No, but loved it rather than light.
Paul exhorts the church to walking as those out from under this judgment and now as children of the light, and to exposing deeds of darkness.
[Ephesians 5:6-13 NASB95] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light [consists] in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
As the church, His own, His children we have a special responsibility to manifest light, and expose and drive back darkness as those that have been rescued/retrieved/redeemed from the domain/authority of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of, and by, the Son He loves.
[Colossians 1:9-14 NASB95] 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard [of it,] we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please [Him] in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Note: in verse 12 we have been qualified (literally) unto a portion of of the inheritance of the holy ones in Light ! And in verse 13 that we have been transferred, released, set free from the authority/kingdom and power of darkness into Jesus and under His Lordship, power, and authority.
This is an awesome truth. Our inheritance in His redemption and the forgiveness of our sin is not simply salvation, but the Light that He is and that is in Him. It is also an awesome responsibility. To whom much is given, much is required, but it is He that empowers with authority, under His authority, in His kingdom. Remember how John related His being the true light:
[John 1:9-12 NASB95] 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (Greek exousia: authority) to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name,
[John 1:4-5 NASB95] 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (overpower) it.
Jesus proclaimed HImself the light of the world to His followers.
[John 8:12 NASB95] 12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “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 9:5 NASB95] 5 “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
But He also made it clear that His disciples were to carry the light. As indicated in John 8:12 His followers would not walk in darkness. But going farther, He said they would have the “Light of life”. He would also exhort them not to hide the light.
[Matthew 5:14-16 NASB95] 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does [anyone] light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Peter would also exhort us to manifest our transfer out of darkness into light by our behaviour.
[1Peter 2:9-12 NASB95] 9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God’s] OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe [them,] glorify God in the day of visitation.
Even as our culture seems to chase and pursue darkness, even as the possible result of judgment and God lifting favor, let us consider how to best manifest light as children of the light and children of the day; Even as Paul was not discouraged as he saw the “god of this world” blinding people to the image of Christ but continued in proclaiming Him for it is God who has said Light will arise out of darkness.
[2Corinthians 4:1-7 NASB95] 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 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. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
He would also write the Philippians as they were under Roman persecution to comprehend that God was working in them even through the persecution, and to work out their salvation (not eternal salvation but salvation from persecution) and thereby manifest light as children of God in a dark generation by enduring without complaint as lights in the world.
[Philippians 2:13-15 NASB95] 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
So much more could be said regarding light and darkness and His purpose for us in Jesus. But as Isaiah said:
[Isaiah 60:1-2 NASB95] 1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 “For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.