Plunging into Darkness

I'm reminded now every day that our world is ever plunging into darkness.

The obvious, of course, is the violence that is ceaseless. You cannot watch the news as of late without seeing another report of a school shooting, a terrorist attack, or a sadistic murderer. The loss of human life, to those separated from the circumstance by a television screen, is not grieved, only feared. Our selfish desire to save our own life creates in us a fear of the violence which surrounds us, not a grief for the souls who are lost to eternity.

But violence isn't all that seeks to suffocate our light. Our nation is a nation with rapidly declining morals. We are under a Congress that has a 9% approval rating, and yet 90% of the congressmen and women are reelected because the belief in our ability to enact change has died. Complacent behavior and bandwagon appeals sway public opinion ever farther from the Truth that hides within us.

But these are world issues, and we fight a battle of the soul, of the heart. Every day fear and terror blanket our land. Some, in their wisdom, cry for one thing, and others, in their wisdom, cry for the other. Our strong idealistic belief in individualism has carried too far; the turmoil in our hearts create division in our country. Instead of listening to reason and conferencing as a group, we are subject to the passion of the heart and its impulsive rashness. We are torn apart, not built up together.

It makes me sick to think that at times like this, we, as a global church, have the nerve to argue with one another. And yet, the only arguing going on is in the States, it seems. Elsewhere, in countries where followers of Christ are persecuted, there is only one truth: salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Many American churches may have more in attendance, but they aren't as full as the less-attended underground churches. Congregation size matters not if our hearts are not filled with the Spirit.

Many cry out against the injustices committed against God's people, and rightfully so. Persecution is a huge issue. But we have confused injustice. A recent scandal is that Starbucks recently started using their holiday cup; this time, without the snowflakes or holiday decorations. And the uproar it caused! They say Starbucks must be anti-Christ because they removed such designs. Show me where in the Bible it mentions snowmen as our source of salvation, and I'll take up your cause.

Yet all is not lost. All around me, in my community, I see and hear of God's work. My church recently renewed their vision and started letting God take over, instead of being led by their own faulty wisdom. The attendance has grown, hearts have been moved, and our actions daily become more Christlike. Just yesterday our pastor mentioned that in 2013, we had 24 baptisms, and in 2014, 26. But already this year (and the year isn't over yet!) we've had 76 baptisms. 

I attended my school's Bible study for three years, and now I have the honor of leading it. Never have I seen it so full of students, nor have I seen wisdom outpoured through fellow students like I have in that room. We have new faces every week, and excitement only grows to see what God has in store. We've prayed and seen God restore health to those who are sick, even with cancer. We've been courageous and seen God move the hearts of others. We've shared our faiths with our peers, and leave the meetings refreshed with the Holy Spirit. Truly, this is not my doing. Only by God's grace is this possible, for many times, I feel unable and inadequate to lead such an amazing group. My faith is shaky at times, and yet, even when I fail in my own walk with the Lord, He is faithful to use me in my weakness.

I hear of the schools around me, and how clubs like FCA are gaining ground in the hearts of students. I see extreme boldness and courageousness in my friends as they live for Christ, no matter the cost. The principal at one school in particular forbade a Bible study from happening, and so my peers created the club to start, on campus, before official school hours so as to keep with the wishes of the principal, but also at a time that cannot be legally denied by her. She cannot stop students from meeting early in the mornings.

There are many other ways I see our God working; too many to write down here. And our enemy despises our faith and our courage. I have seen those close to me attacked by grief and by relapse. I personally feel like the exhaustion I have faced as of late, which distracts me from daily devotion and dulls my faith, is an attack as well. He is throwing a fit because he knows he will lose. He cannot win against our God, and so he does all he can to stop Jesus's will. 

He uses ploys like fear, division, grief, relapse, exhaustion, ANYTHING to keep us from being the unified body of Christ. And yet, when our worlds are shaken, he loses again, for the buildings which we've built fall, leaving exposed the foundation which we've built upon. Our focus is drawn back to the one simple truth which unites us all: Christ died for us. This can get covered sometimes with our own architecture, but our God knows that anything that is not of Himself will fall, leaving us the better for it.

Our world may plunge into darkness, but that only makes our own lights brighter. Like the moon, we reflect the Son, but the night must come before the reflected radiance is able to be seen. Jesus is still with us. He has never left. No matter what comes, it too will pass. No matter what opposes, it too will lose. No matter what seeks to destroy, it cannot succeed, for we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Apart from Him, the world is left to destruction, which is why we must thrust ourselves into the heart of darkness, bringing the Light of Life with us. No longer can we be divided. No longer can we be complacent. No longer can we put off until tomorrow what God has in store for today. We must take hold of the opportunity to shine, for the dawn quickly approaches, and all that is in the dark will be blanketed in the light. Those who are not of the light will burn away, like mist in the sun, while those who are of the light will rejoice because they are joined by THE Light. There is no better time to emulate our Savior, to #LiveItLikeJesus, than right now.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 (NIV)