Showing posts with label darkness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label darkness. Show all posts

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Darkness CANNOT Overtake God’s Light


Darkness CANNOT Overtake God’s Light       



Have you noticed there’s lots of darkness in our world?

It often seems like we’re surrounded by darkness and that it’s closing in. 

Notice, I said “seems like.” Seems like is not the reality for those of us who are in Christ. Yes, there’s a lot of darkness out there. But we don’t have to let it penetrate.  

Take a look at the encouraging words of the apostle, John. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing that was made was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5 NKJV).  





We who are in Christ have Christ in us. Therefore, His light is in us and cannot be overpowered nor overtaken by darkness.  

Look at the word used here in the New King James Version in verse 5—comprehend. “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Other translations use such words as overcome and understand. 


According to Strong’s (#2638), comprehend, katalambano (kat-al-am-ban-oh), has three interpretations:

1- To seize, lay hold of, overcome. As such, verse 5 could read, “The darkness could not gain control of it.”

2- To perceive, attain, lay hold of with the mind; to apprehend with mental or moral effort. As such, verse 5 could read, “The darkness is unreceptive and does not understand it.” [WOW! We could camp out there for a while because lost people cannot understand why we think the way we think and do the things we do.]

3- To quench, extinguish, snuff out the light by stifling it. With this, verse 5 could read, “The darkness will never be able to eliminate it.”*



SO—

“Light and darkness essentially are antagonistic. The Christian’s joy is in knowing that light is not only greater than darkness but will also outlast the darkness.”* 

Therefore—

As we are very aware of the many facets of darkness, both near and far, we must guard against allowing it to penetrate us. And we have the means by which to do so.

We have the full armor of God—it’s our responsibility to wear it and wield it (Ephesians 6:10-18).

We have the Holy Spirit—its our responsibility to give Him full access to our spirit and soul and thus lead us along our way.  

Look at the words of Isaiah: 

Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness. Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, … 
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, and garments rolled in blood, will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this  (Isaiah 8:22; 9:1a, 2-7 NKJV).

Photo by Connie Wohlford

“The challenge of the day is to live a Christian life in a post-Christian world. Christ’s light must shine through our lives, and the deeper the darkness, the brighter that light must be.” -Woodrow Michael Kroll



Let’s pray: Holy Father, as we live in the midst of thick darkness, let us not forget that we once walked in darkness ourselves. Thank You for giving us the Light of Christ and help us to allow His light to shine through us so others will want to know Him. We’re grateful to know that He is the Light which no darkness can comprehend in any sense of the word. Hallelujah! And in His name—the mighty name of Jesus—we pray, Amen.  

Your comments are welcome. 

*Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishing, Word Wealth, p 1573

©Connie Wohlford 2019

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Darkness Will Not—CANNOT Comprehend His Light



Darkness Will Not—CANNOT                     
                 Comprehend His Light

Do you ever feel like there’s lots of darkness in our world?
It often seems like we’re surrounded by darkness and sometimes that it’s closing in. Doesn’t it?

Notice, I said “seems like.” Seems like is not the reality for those of us who are in Christ. Yes, there’s a lot of darkness out there. But we don’t have to let it penetrate. Let’s never forget the encouraging words of the apostle, John.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing that was made was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5 NKJV).

We who are in Christ have Christ in us. Therefore, His light is in us and cannot be overpowered by darkness. (Read those two sentences again.)

Look at the word used here in the New King James Version in verse 5—comprehend. “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Other translations use such words as overcome and understand. 

According to Strong’s (#2638), comprehend, katalambano (kat-al-am-ban-oh), has three interpretations:
1- To seize, lay hold of, overcome. As such, verse 5 could read, “The darkness could not gain control of it.”
2- To perceive, attain, lay hold of with the mind; to apprehend with mental or moral effort. As such, verse 5 could read, “The darkness is unreceptive and does not understand it.” [WOW! We could camp out there for a while because lost people cannot understand why we think the way we think and do the things we do.]
3- To quench, extinguish, snuff out the light by stifling it. With this, verse 5 could read, “The darkness will never be able to eliminate it.”*

SO—
“Light and darkness essentially are antagonistic. The Christian’s joy is in knowing that light is not only greater than darkness but will also outlast the darkness.”*

Therefore—
As we are very aware of the many facets of darkness, both near and far, we must guard against allowing it to penetrate us. And we have the means by which to do so.
We have the full armor of God—it’s our responsibility to wear it and wield it.
We have the Holy Spirit—each of us has the responsibility of giving Him full access to our spirit and soul.

I’d like to close with these words from Isaiah:

Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.
 

Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, ...
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, and garments rolled in blood, will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  –Isaiah 8:22; 9:1a, 2-7

In the midst of widespread darkness, let us not forget that we once walked in darkness but we have seen a great Light—for unto us a Child is born. He is the Light which no darkness can comprehend in any sense of the word. Hallelujah! –Amen.

Your comments are welcome.

*Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishing, Word Wealth, p 1573
©Connie Wohlford 2016

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Alone in the DARK



Alone in the DARK                                              

We were born into sin. 

That’s what Psalm 51:5 says. Ugh! 

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. -Psalm 51:5

Its author, King David, had acknowledged his own sin with Bathsheba and was recognizing our propensity to sin, even with the first intake of oxygen into our tiny lungs. We’re also reminded that Adam and Eve’s original sin brought about the curse of pain in childbirth. So in sin we were born and into a sin darkened world we arrived.

That was our pathetic beginning—each one of us.

But our Creator was not shocked by this dilemma nor was He content with our destructive situation—so He sent His Son. Jesus came to bring life and light and hope into a dark world and the hopeless state of mankind.

God didn’t just decide one day that he would reconcile the world. It was all planned out all along. 

The apostle, John, gives a glimpse of God’s redemptive plan with these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1, 4 & 5).

Throughout John’s Gospel, he declares the work and the glory of Jesus the Christ so that all, through Him, might believe and have the life and light as well as the eternal destination of Heaven.


  

Are you alone in the dark? If you have not received Jesus as your personal Savior, your soul is in darkness.  
 
Step out into the light and walk in the Light by believing and receiving Jesus right now.

Photo by Mayur Gala - From UnSplash
Simply trust that Jesus is the only Son of God, just as the Bible says, and pray this prayer: Father God, I believe Jesus is Your only Son and that You sent Him to bring salvation to me. I receive Him now into my heart. I ask that You forgive me of my sins and help me live for You. In Jesus name—Amen. 

Praise God, for those who believe and receive His gift of Salvation today!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. Do stop in again next week for a continuation of God’s remedy for darkness. 

Please feel free to comment below.

©Connie Wohlford 2016