On the outside of our world, everything looks dandy. Some folks have plenty of clothing, some people have fancy homes, good-paying jobs, and maybe the latest gadgets. However, a reality lurks beneath. The true state of our world is darkness. There’s homelessness, sickness, disease, hunger, injustice, and depravity. Along with that, there are a few celebrities promoting their successes, waving their wealth in the faces of the poor and dying. There are rich politicians enriching themselves with other’s money; and on it goes. But real success doesn’t come from obtaining multiple millions in one’s bank accounts. Rich, poor, and the middle-class commit suicide just like others all the same. The real issue is a spiritual one. The song, This World by Caedmon’s Call, shares deep, pensive truths. Observe: “This world has nothing for me, and this world has everything. All that I could want, and nothing that I need.”
The world offers nothing, except everything. It offers all I want but nothing I really need. There’s a deep, deep deception in this world and it’s enveloping millions of people. Referencing the birth of Christ, scripture tells us, “The people walking in darkness, have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). That light came to intervene in the affairs of men, as well as to reveal its level of darkness. It showed us how depraved we were without a savior.
Yet we continue in those same conditions today. The darkness surrounds us. The difference now is that there’s hope. Jesus’ birth is like that light-switch that Mulder and Scully (X-Files) always failed to find in each room they walked into. We can invite the Light into our lives; He lives among us. He came to give us hope, and to show us where the switch is, if you will. We can leave the darkness. “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them” (2Corinthians 4:4). He doesn’t want them saved. People will ask, “Yeah, but having all that money can’t be all bad, right?” That can be answered with other questions such as: “How many of those rich people (primarily talk-show hosts and celebrities) promote Jesus above all else? Do they promote humility? How many deny publicity? How many promote handing out millions to help their local communities?” Jesus said: “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, brothers, or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:12 NIV). See, saying they’re good people, or religious, or a lover of God, doesn’t mean anything. It’s having a relationship with Him. It’s promoting His agenda in their lives that identifies them with salvation.
So, what’s wrong with rich or well-off friends inviting you back? God wants us to do things without sounding a trumpet. He doesn’t want us saying, “You see all those people there? I put them where they are today.” People will then applaud us and that gives us our nice pat on the back. God wants to be the one rewarding us for the things we do without calling attention to ourselves. This world has recently sunk into more depravity than ever before. The forces of darkness are enveloping people to the point they can’t even imagine, much less see that there’s a light-switch in their midst. Where there is hurt, abuse, lying, depression, sickness, drugs, and hopelessness, darkness practically swallows people because there seems to be no way out. Jesus gave people hope. “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD (Yahweh) in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). When Jesus the Light-giver, established Himself in the world, He kept the powers of darkness at bay. At the cross, and resurrection, He defeated the king of darkness. He defeated sin. He defeated Death. You can overcome darkness in your life. God is a giver of hope. He’s the Light of the world (John 9:5). He’s here to change your life, your circumstances. Give Him not your poverty, your sickness, nor your riches; give Him your entire life. Lay your life before Him.
When He came, He told Saul (Christian persecutor) that He came: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” [Jesus] (Acts 26:18).
God Bless,
Sam