PRACTICALITY OF LIGHT

Think of two containers, one transparent and spotlessly plain, and the other coated black and opaque. Which of them is more likely to allow for the penetration of light? Let us consider a scripture.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4: AMP.

3. But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing;
4. among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

If the scripture above is critically considered, a question comes to mind:

How do you know a man whose eyes has been blinded? We need to first know that darkness does not manifest itself as darkness. What that means is that the devil does not come to a man and reveals his intent to darken the mind of that man. Darkness conceals its intent.

Then the answer, a man who does not believe in the gospel of Christ nor in the power thereof has his mind darkened and refuses to respond to God’s offer of salvation. And that explains the illustration of the coated and opaque bottle. No matter the amount of light shone, there can be no penetration! By this we know a man has been blinded.

John 3:19 says, this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Men love the darkness, and choose the darkness and because of this, Satan works hard to keep them blinded to the glorious gospel of light and salvation in Jesus. The unsaved have their minds focused on the things of this world and cannot discern the spiritual truths of the kingdom of God.

Thus, all that Satan has to do is keep people’s minds on the things of this world, preventing them from understanding Christ via the Holy Spirit; this keeps people’s minds veiled.

A second question will not but boggle our minds! Does darkness only reign in the heart of an unsaved man?

A believer who has received salvation and is not converted or transformed in his mind and still engages in activities that edifies his flesh also has his mind darkened. Though he has experienced the great light of salvation, he has refused to come to the light of what He has become anew!

Rom.13.12 – The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

That is why Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus:
Eph 1:18 AMP: And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very centre and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His
glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people).

Although, God has opened our eyes to see and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we must still seek Him to enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we will come to an understanding of these crucial truths.

“The eyes of our hearts” refers to our total inner person, which includes the intellect, the emotions, and the will. Until the light of this gospel is able to influence your intellect, emotions and will, darkness is not far from you. Until you can live above the things by which Satan uses to influence the minds of people; the flesh, and allow God’s word to reign in your inner person, darkness can still hover around you.

Now, how do you identify the manifestations of darkness in your life? Only light can unveil the deeds of darkness!

John 8:12 AMP “Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “[a]I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life”.

Follow after Christ and you will not walk in darkness. This sounds more theoretical, especially when spoken of in this manner but the practicality to following after Christ does not end in being religious and being involved in the things of God. These religious actions makes it theoretical to us, as there is no willingness to pursue that which we have heard!

We then ask, how do I follow after Christ? – A question that stems from a heart that yearns to follow Jesus truly! Following Christ involves embracing His teachings and applying it to our daily lives. It is not enough to read through the Bible. Applying it to our lives is where the results of reading are gotten.

David had so much regard for the word of God that he considered it a Lamp and a Light unto the course of his life.

Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

The lamp is known for its ability to illuminate, and according to the scripture above, the word is first a lamp fastened to our feet, which then illuminates the path we are supposed to tread upon. It then occurs to us, the word of God, which potentially is light, can be fastened as a lamp to your feet but will only be a light onto your path when you decide to follow its illumination.

This would further take root in our hearts by considering the same chapter of Psalms, but the 9th verse. The psalmist lets out a cry, “How shall a young man cleanse His ways…” and he answers it, “…by taking heed thereto according to God’s word!”. It is therefore clear, that it is not the hearer of the word that has the light, but the doer of the word!

The potentiality of the word as a light is effectuated and manifested in the doing thereof. You have the provision of Light for your journey in life. Now, there is no excuse to remain confused or ignorant in life about any issue at all.

Have you thought about Paul’s encounter with that light that shone round about him on his way to Damascus? Let’s take a quick read.
Acts.9.3 – And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven:

Why do you think God showed up as a bright light?

We cannot question how God chooses to reveal himself to a man. God could have chosen a different encounter. But, we can make an inference that God came as light to expose the darkness that Saul was caught in. The manifestation of light is revelation. God revealed Himself to Paul but not without a question that the light made him ask. “Who are you, Lord?”.

Light, manifested as we heed God’s word, must cause us a desire and yearning to want to know God the more. In the absence of the darkness that plighted us, we now seek to satisfy a void, to find meaning and expression and then we cry like the humbled apostle, “Who art thou Lord…” because according to the 36th Psalms, “…in His light we see light!”.

Irresistibly, we would ask God, like Paul did, “What would you have me do?” because now that the darkness that used to dictate our sense of purpose has been removed, we need a new purpose, and it is found in the question, “What is my assignment, or what would you have me do?”. An encounter with the light of God subjects you to begin to see things the way God sees them.

God deals with your mountain of traditions and cultural beliefs, and brings you to picture things the same way he pictures them. Then would the scripture be fulfilled, “With thee is the fountain of life, in your light we see light!”

How do you take in all of these? God is emphasizing the need to stay with His word and choose to be guided by it. If you must hear God over any situation, you must desire His word.

MARANATHA!

EDITORIAL UNIT.

TACSFON UI