Just when you thought it could not possibly get any darker...it does.

Isaiah described it as a deep, or thick darkness that covered the earth (Isa. 60:1-2). And he wasn’t talking about those who live in Gnome, Alaska during the winter months either. We’re talking of course...about a spiritual darkness that covers the earth today. And what did Jesus say about those who walk in darkness? - “They don’t know where they are going.” (John 12:35)

This is the same darkness that Matthew reminds us... is what people were sitting in, just prior to the arrival of Jesus... quoting the prophet of old...”The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light...” (Matt. 4:16) That was and continues to be the place we were all in prior to coming to Jesus (Acts 26:18)

Jesus would later announce to the world that He Himself was indeed...the ‘light of the world’ (John 8:12) and warned those who followed Him that the only way one can keep the darkness from overtaking them...was to ‘walk in the light while we have light’. (John 12:35). John would later write that it was those who ‘walk in the light as He is in the light...whose sins are cleansed by the blood of Jesus’. (1 John 2:7). You might want to go and read that last verse again...and chew on it a bit. And let me tell you why that is such a significant piece of truth:

Where there is no true repentance, there can be no remission of sins, which only comes from the covering of the shed blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus). Repentance means we ‘turn from’ and no longer practice sin. That is why Jesus said unless we repent, we will all likewise ...perish (Luke 13:3,5). When we do repent, and turn from the darkness and walk in the light as He is in the light...is then when the ‘blood is applied’. Sound familiar? Do you recall the first Passover back in Exodus, and the various plagues were coming on Egypt? Take a moment and go read Exodus 12:12-13,22-23.

God told the people there that He was going to pass through and strike the Egyptians...and when He ‘sees the blood...’...that He ‘will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses and strike you’ (23). We know who the ‘destroyer’ is, and that God ‘unleashes’ him to carry out His wrath and judgments (Ps. 78:49-50). Jesus refers to him as a ‘thief’ in John 10:10. And what was His warnings in Matt. 24:42-44?

Now before we leave the book of Exodus, you’ll recall there had been other plagues poured out as well, the ninth one being a plague of... ‘darkness’ (10:21-23). And here it came...’thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days” (22). We read there that no one could see one another for three days. But .... but .... but...”all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings” (23).

Friends...when God’s wrath and judgment is poured out, He makes sure His children have light. And who are the ‘children of God’? Well, Paul tells us in Romans 8:14 who the children of God are...’those who are led of the Spirit’. And John reminds us how we can know the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil are, in 1 John 3:9-10. But if you are one of those who first prefer to hear the ‘letters in red’, then take a look as to how Jesus made the distinction as to who His kin are: “Those who do the will of God...” (Mark 3:35; Matt. 7:21)

Let me ask you this: do you think a blind person even knows they are blind...if that is all they have ever known? And how would they ever truly know...unless their blind eyes were opened? How did any of us who walk in the light as He is in the light...truly know until our eyes were opened? What can be a daunting challenge is when you witness others who claim to see... but continue to walk in darkness...how do you try and convince them they too remain blind (1 John 1:6; 2:4)? Take a look at the somber rebuke Jesus issued to the church at Laodicea in Rev. 3:14-17. What did He tell them they were unaware of, there in vs. 17?

And in Matt. 23...when Jesus unloaded on the Pharisees who were the ruling class and teachers of God’s word back in the day...five times He calls them out telling them how ‘blind’ they were (23:16,17,19,24,26). Trust me...that did not go over well as they were highly offended by this. If you would care to have more insight to coincide with this, flip back and read Matt. 15:1-14.

These teachers were blinded to truth...even when truth was standing right in front of them. Jesus was trying to explain to them the things that truly defile a man’s heart...and how it was 'not what goes into them...but what comes out that defiles them'  (Matt. 15:10-11). And yes, they were indeed offended (12). But look what Jesus advises His disciples to do there in vs 14- “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind ...and if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch”.

So what does any of this have to do with us today? Well...hopefully some of you are ‘seeing it’. We know that Jesus came to ‘restore sight to the blind’ (Luke 4:18; Acts 26:18). We know the ‘god of this age’ is the one who keeps us blind from seeing truth’...until we turn to the Lord. (2 Cor. 4:3-4; 3:16). But we are not just called to ‘come to Him’...we must ‘follow Him’ (John 12:34-35). And as we do, the Holy Spirit continues to give us more light...which is what the ‘wise virgins’ received during that time of great darkness at midnight as the bridegroom was approaching (Matt. 25:1-13). And again...the plague of darkness in Exodus- who had light in their dwellings? And how do we distinguish the difference between ‘wise’ and ‘foolish’ virgins? Hint- take a look at Matt.7:24-27.

Another passage...that applies to those living at the ‘end of time’. Daniel writes about ‘those who are wise shall shine...” (3) before he is told to ‘shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end’...adding that ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase’ (4). That would fall in line with Paul’s description of the ‘last days’ and how many will be ‘ever learning but not coming to the knowledge of the truth...having a form of godliness but denying the power’ (2 Tim. 3:5-7). So now look at vs. 8-10 there in Daniel 12. Did you notice who will ‘see and understand’...and those who don’t?

It's amazing to me how the writings of the OT prophets really do speak to the time we are living in. Jesus rebukes the blind leaders as did both Isaiah and Jeremiah did in their time, for leading God's people astray. (Isa. 3:12; 9:16; Jer. 23:16-20). Please be sure to read those passages...then meet me back here tomorrow