Do you really need me to tell you what you probably are already aware of, that there is much ‘darkness’ in the land today? And depending on what ‘world view’ you tend to have, you may see the source of that darkness through a different set of lenses that someone else.

Perhaps your focus is on the political climate and divide we live in today, or the ever changing cultural shifts that are constantly ‘evolving’. Maybe you’re wired to look at everything through statistical and economic data...and have concerns. And then there is the ‘spiritual climate’ in which I personally tend to view more and pay closer attention to for a host of reasons these days. But one thing I have often observed when it comes to ‘darkness’: it can produce much anxiety, fear, and confusion in people. This in turn can oftentimes lead to irrational thinking, if not panic; because people who 'walk in darkness don't know where they are going', as Jesus once said (John 12:35).

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a ‘darkness that shall cover the earth’, and he described it as a ‘deep, heavy, thick’...darkness...that would envelope the people (Isa. 60:2). But in that same breath of text, we are also encouraged with a promise that ‘light...has come’, and that this light would be associated with the ‘glory of the Lord that is risen upon us’ (60:1).

I hope you might read this message today with the understanding that the Lord Jesus... is that ‘light and truth’, especially since He claimed to be both ‘the light of the world’ and ‘the truth’ (John 8:12 & 14:6).

So living in a time and era where so many people are fearful, anxious, confused and uptight, is it any wonder that many are clamoring about as they try to make sense and find clarity as to what is happening in the world today? What makes this time we are living in even more troubling, it seems to me...is the number of ‘voices’ out there who are ‘crying in the wilderness’, all claiming to have some ‘truth’ to share. And we can thank the ‘internet’ for that platform where you can dial up just about any conspiracy theory or stream of thought that suits your fancy.

Something else I am keenly aware of...is that I am also... just another one of those many ‘voices’ out there who claims to have some ‘truth’ to share’; which is why if there was ever a time to know and recognize the only voice that truly matters, that time is now (John 10:3-5,27).

Yet Jesus taught us that not everyone is interested in coming to the ‘light’, because they actually love the darkness more; imagine that (John 3:19-21). And Paul would later write that because people have no genuine love for the ‘truth’, that they would be susceptible to falling into a deeper darkness of deception, compliments of God (2 Thess. 2:9-12). Yes, you read that correctly.

Do you know why...God was going to send this great delusion or ‘lie’? It tells us right there in that passage- it would come to those who are ‘perishing because they did not receive the love of the truth...that they might be saved’ (10). And it would be ‘for this reason’...that God sends strong delusion that they should believe the lie’ (11). It’s almost as if God is saying...”You don’t want to walk in My Truth/Light... where you can find safety, peace, joy and comfort? Then fine...have it your way...and let me add to it!” This may be what Jesus was foretelling when asked about the ‘end of the age’, and He began to warn of widespread deception, even saying how ‘many would come in His name and deceive many’ (Matt. 24:4-5,11,24). But it’s not God Himself who is ‘lying’ or bringing this cloak of darkness, since He is a God in whom it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18); on the contrary, He is stepping back, in a sense, or ‘lowering the hedge’ (as we read about yesterday in Isaiah 5 and Job 1), and is permitting the ‘prince of darkness’ to come in like a flood and to do ‘his thing’(Isa. 59:19).  Not the first time this has ever happened (Ps. 106:13-15)

There’s good reason why Satan is called the ‘prince of darkness’ (Eph. 6:12) and the ‘father of lies’ (John 8:44). He’s been doing that ever since man walked the earth (Genesis 3; Rev. 12:9), and it's under his influence and power the whole world has been under since sin entered the world (1 John 5:19). And do you know why this gospel, or ‘good news’ was sent to us? So that ‘our eyes could be opened in order we be turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God...’ (Acts 26:18).

What is extremely unfortunate though, is the plethora of ‘other gospels’ that have arisen in recent and past generations that the ‘serpent’ is behind and are still deceiving people today (2 Cor. 11:3-4, 14-15; Matt. 7:15; Gal. 1:6-9). But let me tell you something about the one ‘true’ gospel that Jesus came to preach- it brings true freedom as it sets the sinner free from the power of sin and darkness (Col. 1:13; John 8:34-36). Take a look at 2 Cor. 4:3-4 and you can see it is the ‘god of this age’ (Satan) who has ‘blinded the minds’ of those who are perishing and do not believe...from seeing the ‘light...of this gospel’. When Paul wrote that, he used the phrase as to how this gospel is ‘veiled to those who are perishing’ (3). And the quickest way to have the ‘veil removed’...is to ‘turn to the Lord’...with all your heart (2 Cor. 3:16).

This also involves a tad more than just repeating a prayer or ‘saying, Lord, Lord’, (Matt. 7:21). It demands that we come with all our heart, ready to surrender our lives to Him and to His Lordship (Luke 6:46; John 2:5; Acts 3:22-23). It is then...that His light and glory will come upon you, as Isaiah promised back in that text - (Isa. 60:1-2).

Let me close out today with a few reminders as to what a true follower of Jesus can expect in such times of darkness: He will be your source of light and truth. Do you recall way back when God was about to deliver His people from the bondage of Egypt, and He used a series of ‘plagues’? One of them was a plague of ‘darkness’ that fell upon the whole land, and it was a darkness that could be ‘felt’ (Ex. 10:21-22). Yet, look at vs. 23...”But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings”.

Now look at Daniel 12:1-3, 10. We learn there of those words that were ‘sealed up until for the end of time’ and how the ‘wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament’; and it will be the ‘wise who shall understand’, but not the wicked (who are perishing). And they shall not be moved, because their feet are fixed upon the Rock...and they walk in perfect peace because their minds are ‘stayed on Him’ (Isa 26:3). And which ‘virgins’ had plenty of ‘light’ (from their oil/spirit) at midnight and were ready to meet the bridegroom, in that parable found in Matt. 25:1-13? It was the ‘wise’ virgins’...who actually ‘do the word’ (Matt. 7:24; James 1:22).

Friends...let me tell you as plainly as I can, in all love and humility: Just saying you ‘believe in the Light’...is not enough to keep you out of darkness. You better be walking in the Light as He is in the light...or else the darkness will overtake you. (John 12:35-36; 1 John 1:6-7)