Who Will Save Us?

DARKNESS IS UPON US

John wrote, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of man” (John 1:4). When darkness fell on the land during the crucifixion, even the Son of God had to cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness?” (Matthew 6:23). Regarding the people that rejected Jesus, Paul recalled Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10. “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so they could not see and ears so they could not hear, to this day” (Romans 11:8). A similar darkness has fallen upon us.

Darkness is being defined as the absence of light. It is an irrevocable principle. We are not created to function in the dark like bats. But, when we are blinded, then daylight too is dark. While I am writing this article, I cannot see with my left eye that soon shall be repaired. The same is true of my mind. It is amazing how quickly my mind can be clouded in darkness. Unfortunately, the mind cannot be repaired like a cataract. Unlike the eye, the mind can change from within. For that reason we have ears. They are the doors to our mind and we can open them slightly to let in some medicine to cure the darkness within. As long as there is darkness within us, there is absolutely no hope that we will change on the outside. We end up dying in darkness or in sin (John 8:21-24).

It is up to us, whether we want to remain in darkness. Jesus’ Message was and still is, “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11). He declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). In the legend, it was the blind man that carried the lantern in the dark, so that others would not run into him. It is the life and teaching of Jesus that keeps me from running in and over others and hit my head needlessly. The way we behave ourselves and treat others accordingly is evidence whether we serve the prince of light or the prince of darkness (Ephesians 2:2). There is a clear distinction between darkness and light (John 8:31-47).

We think we are a progressive and enlightened society that is no longer in darkness. By that we mean, we are technically advanced, but have we mentally and morally risen above a primitive society that lives on integrity? I remember when a handshake closed a deal and when I bad-mouthed someone, my parents made me wash my mouth with soap. Now, I open my ears and I hear enlightened individuals speak ill of our political and religious leaders and so do the leaders of the people they serve. Is there any honor left in this nation? We lack respect, when respect is due and we lack honor when honor is due (Romans 13:7). Jesus used a much stronger language, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (John 5:23). The Son was sent to bring light to this world by fulfilling the Laws of God and not our own concoctions that sanction deeds of darkness (Matthew 5:17; Romans 1:28-32). The fact that we have so much opposition to our ruling parties is evidence that we live in darkness. Our authorities have no handle on the cause of darkness because they have been the cause themselves (Romans 13:1-7). 
Whatever light is left, they hide in private (Matthew 5:14-16). Without light, we eventually die. Jesus’ Message to Sardis could well be to us, “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God” (Revelation 3:1-2).

Our darkness is not just personal, but national and international. How much insight do we need to see what our world will look like in a pre-medieval religious garb in two or three decades? Already, we are led by a leader that acts like a Muslim, parades as a collectively redeemed Christian, sides with the Brotherhood that includes unions, and uses America and the United Nations to fight Muslims he does not agree with. Our President wants us to believe, that the freedom fighters in the Muslim uprisings are democrats. Not so, dear readers. The Brotherhood’s secret code is: “Allah is our objective; the Prophet is our leader, the Quran is our law; Jihad is our way; dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.” Please add, “The world is at their feet.” The world drama reminds us of the German Labor Party that became the Nazis. The Nazis were a speck of dust in comparison to the Muslim Brotherhood and a world union. At the end, they will tangle each other, because politics and religion are mortal enemies. Who will save us?