Adding Light To A Dark World; Go Deliver The Word!

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.’ (Romans 13:12); (1) We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. (2) For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, (3) how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. (4) God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.’ (Hebrews 2:1-4)

These are not necessarily the best of times; there is great tension and anxiety as we find our nation in a precarious point in history. While there is a turning toward common sense, the years of chaos promoting godless activities is still out in our society. There are battles on men playing women sports; there are Congressional lawmakers continuing the application of subjective enforcement of laws and continuing the application of a two-tiered legal system – ‘rules for thee but not for me’.

We find our society not necessarily warming to the Gospel message, and there is some hostility toward us Christians who try to share it. It may not be in terms of a loud or violent pushback, but often a quiet shunning to isolate us who try to share the Word. The secular worldview, in pushing its agenda, teaches those who espouse the Biblical worldview are simply ‘uneducated’ or ‘unenlightened’. If those who are secular only knew the Truth, that the opposite is true, they would pay attention to the Word.

In Hebrews 2 our calling is to pay attention to the Word, both for our sakes and the sakes of the others around us.  We must first be firm in our stance with Christ, and firm in stand up for Him and against that which is against Him.  The reason for us to be steadfast is simple, the Gift of Salvation that Jesus provided for us is so great it is too important to simply hide behind it. 

There are many Christians who believe in doing ‘the turtle’ in times of trouble; we hide in our shell, protected by Jesus.  While we may need to do this periodically to prepare, this is not our primary location to perform our Christian duties.  We are to confirm the Gospel and obey the Great Commission, not to live within the shell of His protection, but go out boldly and proclaim His glory, protected by the armor of God and His Light as Paul dictates in Romans 13:12. 

Our ‘shell’ is what we reflect outwardly; Jesus is not a coward.  He faced His adversities and His fate as we should, if we reflect Him properly.  If we hide inside the church walls or the walls of our homes, those who do not know Him will only see a false narrative.  We do not go inside to hide, but to prepare!  Yes, be aware and plan as the Spirit leads you, but always share the Gospel boldly.

As we all should already know, God is still in control!  Jesus still reigns over all things!  As I mentioned above, you can take the viewpoint that the glass is half-empty.  But we as Christians need to understand ‘half-empty’ is an opportunity to ‘refill’; to fight for Christ by obeying the Great Commission and ‘go make disciples’, period.  Jesus did not say, ‘Go, but make sure it’s safe outside before you go, don’t go in the rain, and shut your yapper if there’s any complaints’.  He simply said ‘GO!’ No matter the weather (or political climate), go make disciples – be prepared, but go.  

We need to be like postal workers and go deliver the Gospel, in society’s ‘rain, sleet or snow’.  It may not be the best of times, but now more than ever we need to ‘GO‘, especially since we are one day closer to when the night ends, and Jesus returns.  We can go out into the darkness as we have the Armor of Christ that protects us and lights our path, and brings people to us.  Tell your neighbor the Good News, bless those you talk to on the phone by asking them for a prayer request, strike up a conversation with that one who is off to the side looking ignored. 

Things may get worse, they may get better, but we don’t have to wait until the sun comes back out to ‘GO’, as it may then be too late – not for you, but for your loved one, your friend, your neighbor, or that one guy or gal who looks a little lost today.  Just take care of your business – which for the Christian is the work of Christ!