THE DARK SIDE

Monday, July 18, 2016

                                                     The dark side

 

America is under a great attack from the dark side. 

Police killings, terrorist attacks, racial unrest, corruption

, finger-pointing, demagoguery are all part of the obvious

 problems. It seems like the floodgates of evil have been

 opened and the demons are having a field day. Some

 will call it judgment, others will say it's consequences.

 Irrespective of your perspective, it is obvious that 

there are deep-rooted issues that need to be addressed.

 They are issues that have come to a head after years

 of bad leadership-both spiritual and political. Until

 there are changes in leadership, these types of

 issues will continue. We cannot keep doing the

 same thing and expect different results. This is 

how the dark side arises.

 

The question is, "What can we do?" Many want

 me to tell them what to do. That is not my charge

, nor my calling. But I can encourage you. In the

 deepest darkest night, the ships in the ocean look

 upon the horizon for signs of danger. If they see

 a lighthouse, they know they are approaching 

land and must exercise caution. That little bit 

of light shines through the darkness and gives

 direction, hope and safety. Those of us who 

proclaim Christianity have a particular calling i

n times like these. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14,

 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set

 on an hill cannot be hid." Ephesians 5:8 says,

 "For you were once darkness, but now are you

 light in the Lord: walk as children of light."

 

Those who do not know the Lord cannot be held 

to the same standard as those of us who do. Yes

, they need to obey the laws and understand that

 taking a life, or lives, is wrong. But in the absence

 of the light of the world, which is Jesus Christ, are

 their hearts changed beyond the law? Romans 

10:13-15 says, "For whosoever shall call upon 

the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then 

shall they call on him in whom they have not

 believed? and how shall they believe in him of 

whom they have not heard? and how shall they

 hear without a preacher? And how shall they

 preach, except they be sent? as it is written, 

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach

 the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of

 good things!"

 

You can make a difference. In fact, you are called

 by Christ to make a difference. Jesus said in 

Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before

 men, that they may see your good works, 

and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

" America is experiencing a great darkness. 

Within you is the light of Christ. As Paul exhorts

 in Romans 13:10-12, "Love works no ill to his

 neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

 And this, knowing the time, that now it is high time

 to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer

 than when we believed. 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 armor of light." While

 many seek a political solution to the darkness, the

 best remedy for the dark side is the Light of Christ.

 You have it. Share it as the Holy Spirit leads you.

BILL WILSON