How Dark Does It Have To Be?

… and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. Ephesians 5:10-12

How dark does it have to be, to agree with the pagan culture in which we live that there are many sexes and not just two? How dark does it have to be, to look the other way as your neighborhood school holds a drag queen story hour or burlesque type of performance? How dark does it have to be for a church leader to be more afraid of their congregation than of God - and neglect to address cultural issues?

How have we fallen to such depths that we do not realize how far off of the mark we truly are? Is it possible to be so compromised that one believes that he or she is walking in the light yet is stumbling in the dark? Making excuses for compromise is the first step to shutting out the light. A cursory reading of the book of Revelation reveals that the modern-day church would not be the first church to compromise God’s intended purpose for His people. All but one church mentioned out of the seven churches had compromised and were warned that their light was about to be snuffed out. Look around and think about what you see.

Is your pastor afraid to bring up difficult and “controversial” topics on Sunday morning? What about the next tier of leadership? What about you? Are you standing up to the perversion being pushed onto our children at school? How about the constant perverse social messaging on television programing? Churches have become wonderful places to gather, but the beauty of redemption has, in most cases, been reduced to a false and misleading belief that “everyone is going to heaven” and that we are all children of God. Jesus’ first message was to repent! This means to change your ways which requires a change of thinking. He did not squirm, he did not mince words, he was clear that everyone needed to repent and to prepare their heart in order for God’s kingdom to move. He finished His job here, now it is up to His children to take back territory by doing what we are called to do. He told the religious leaders that their father was the devil (John 8:44). He made it clear that not everyone is a child of God, so why do so many professing Christians proclaim the complete opposite? This is misleading and cruel.

The gift of freewill requires that we take a stand and that we keep our thoughts and comprehension of who God is, in check. Everyday, I have to ask myself:

Do I really know God?

Does what I profess and share with others match up to God’s word and the intent of His word?

Am I making excuses for compromising God’s word, or am I staying the course even in the face of adversity?

Jesus told his disciples that they would be persecuted for standing for Kingdom Truth (John 15:20), why should we believe that things will be any different for us today? We are living through some of the darkest times in history. Christians are meant to be the light to the world and the only way that we can do that is to continually seek the face of our Creator.

God will guide those who are ready and willing (2 Peter 3:9).

Choose to be the light.