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Daily Encouragement Net - Encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13)
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.


Tuesday, April 26, 2005

"Loving Darkness"

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

I was recently invited to attend a breakfast meeting with our local legislator who wanted to hear from a sampling of his constituents. Brooksyne and I were among the random sampling chosen so we attended and enjoyed a fine breakfast followed by a brief presentation and an opportunity for questions. In our state the top political issue is our current governor's persistent drive to radically expand gambling, so this was the main topic.

Many, particularly in our area, are very opposed to this and it was evident in the questions asked. It so happens that our rep is also opposed and is among those seeking to stop this ungodly new onslaught of evil.

One dear lady, God bless her, boldly spoke up and shared several verses of Scripture such as "Righteousness exalts a nation", and so forth. Practically with tears, she warned of the direction toward judgment our nation is headed to. It was an anointed mini-sermon and many of us were surely in agreement with her. Of course the representative had to remain "religiously neutral", although I am pretty sure he would have agreed with her.

No more did she get done than another woman rose and denounced her view, stating quite piously, "I get very troubled when people bring the Bible into issues." In her view this was dangerous and just must not be done. There was a chill in the room and the rep's assistant quickly rose and pointed to her watch helping to get the rep out of the sticky situation. The meeting was soon over.

This is just one more illustration of the battle that has long raged. The Biblical worldview fundamentally asserts that: 1) The Almighty God is the Creator, Ruler, Redeemer and Judge over all the universe. 2) He has revealed His will for man through His Word.  3) He has established non-arbitrary laws governing the conduct of His creation. 

By contrast the secular humanist worldview fundamentally asserts that: 1) God is merely a religious figment or whatever one wants to believe, if anything. 2) The Bible is at best a collection of good stories, but not the rule of authority in our lives. 3) The rule of the Bible is arbitrary and subjective. 

This ancient battle between these two opposing worldviews is rising to a fevered pitch.  Our world is in desperate need of true heaven-sent revival! The daily verse is so powerful.  "Light has come into the world."  The Greek has the definite article "the" before light and I believe this is very significant.  In the Gospel and Epistles of John "the light" is Jesus Christ (see John 1:4-9; 8:12: 9:5; 12:46; 1 John 1:5).

"But men loved darkness instead of light."  Again we have the definite article in the Greek prior to both light and darkness.  This is a matter of fact statement that explains much about human nature and the response to the Gospel.  For those of us living in the glorious light of Jesus Christ we may marvel that anyone would make the choice for darkness but many do "because their deeds were (are) evil." The text continues "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (John 3:20).  If they come into the light they must deal with their evil deeds.  They must confess and repent.

Today, I encourage believers all over the world to join me as we live in the light of Christ and His Word!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Note from Brooksyne:  It astounds me when I consider how many laws are written based on the Ten Commandments, but according to the secularist's outlook we dare not expose people to this portion of God's Word. The principles we live by today that make us a civil society are based upon the commandments from God's Word.  I read once where over 300 laws on the books are simply rewritings of the Ten Commandments.  

Somehow people, like the woman opposing the courageous Christian who stood up for righteousness, seem to think that we can be people of principle without acknowledging that those principles come from a Holy God.  I admired the Christian woman who dared to take a stand and I took the opportunity to affirm her after the meeting.  I pray that I might be as bold in such a setting.


Here's a song that comes to mind based on today's message. I am so thankful for ministries that place recourses up on the web
Here's the ministry that placed the song up:

Yesterday I referred to a version of the doxology referred to in our area as "The Mennonite Doxology" and an alert reader sent me this audio link. This is very similar to how it sounded at our hymn sing.

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Your comments are welcome! If you are the original recipient (a member of the mailing list) merely reply to this email. If not or you would prefer to use a webform please visit the comments page. I sure appreciate the input and read each comment and am so often encouraged.  However due to the volume of email I receive I am not necessarily able to reply personally to each one. I regret this since often readers will share a particular need or have a specific question. I certainly do pray when I receive a prayer request and often my wife Brooksyne joins me.

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
 
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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