As I write my first post, my first attempt ever to blog, I am pondering one of the greatest truths in all of Scripture. Listen to John in the opening of his gospel. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5 ESV). The English Standard Version (ESV) accurately translates the Greek word "katalambanō" as the phrase "has not overcome it". The ESV gives rich and relished meaning to the understanding that no matter how hard Satan and his evil forces may spread and grow their darkness; it can never overcome the Light of Life, Jesus Christ.
This brings me to the heart, the center and core of our being. Jeremiah says our hearts are terribly wicked. Paul says we are spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins, in our "darkness" in other words. So, the burning question is how can this deep, infective and total darkness of the heart be overcome? Paul gives us the answer in his second epistle to the Corinthians with the following statement: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (II Cor. 4:6).
As Christ's light shines in on the darkness of the heart, it brings with it creative and redemptive power. Paul's quote within this verse is taken from Genesis chapter one where God speaks to the earth that was without form and void. Darkness was over the face of the deep and the Spirit of God, Sovereign of the Universe, hovered over the waters and said, "Let there be light" and the light had no choice but to shine!
In the same way, the Spirit of God hovers over a dead, void, and dark heart of a sinner. He speaks light, and the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ shines in such a way that it overpowers and overcomes the darkness of the heart. This light creates a new heart and thus, changes every aspect of a person. This truth and reality is one of the sweetest in the entire Bible. Praise God for His overpowering light!
The only way we can ever have the light of darkness removed from our total depraved minds is for the irresistable light of God's grace to enter in just as it did in the life of the apostle Paul in Acts 22.
ReplyDeleteActs 22:6-11 (NASB77); "And it came about that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' "And I answered, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' "And those who were with me beheld the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. "And I said, ' What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go on into Damascus; and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.' "But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
This grace of God is not given to all. Notice that the men with Paul did not receive the SAME light as did Paul.
As Christ rose Lazarus from the dead and gave him life; so to does He raise the total depraved and dead sinner from the dead and give them life (LIGHT). [WHAT CAN A DEAD MAN DO, BUT STINK].
Ephesians 5:8-9 (NASB77); you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Colossians 2:13 (NASB77); when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
If it is TRUE that a dead man cannot do anything; then it is true that they cannot cooperate with God in receiving the light of salvation; it MUST be a SOVEREIGN act of God.
I'll close with a word from Peter...
1 Peter 2:6-10 (NASB77); "Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed." This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone," and, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
How truely BLESSED we are to have received the Light of God's Grace!
Paul Harris