Amen!. I enjoyed the Star Wars movies, but one the same level I enjoy Greek
and Norse mythology. I recently re read the Lord of the Rings, and Tolkien's
faith shines through it. In all their struggles, Gandalf, Aragorn, Frodo and
the others have an underlying confidence that even if they fail, their cause
will ultimately triumph. One of the most striking things is that the monstrous
Gollum's evil actions are what finally destroys the evil ring and its master.
On Friday, March 26, 2021, 4:41:52 PM EDT, mike mcinnis
<ratmotor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XIX Issue 14
Published occasionally for Zion’s mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make
straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the
way; but let it rather be healed.
Hebrews
12::12-13
THE POWER OF DARKNESS
When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against
me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
Luke 22:53
The allure of the once very popular “Star Wars”, movies was in large part
because it fed into the naturally received myth, that there is an ongoing
struggle between the powers of darkness and the powers of good. This is the
commonly received philosophy which pervades the thoughts of men as they seek to
make sense of the things which transpire in the earth. This thought process is
most surely described by Solomon in the Proverbs when he said, “There is a way
which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
(Prov.14:12)
This philosophy leads men to view the triumph of “good” over “evil” as a
battle whose outcome is not at all certain, and one which requires that men
step up and do their part to quell these forces of darkness and malevolence,
causing good to shine forth for the benefit of mankind. This very viewpoint
has crept its way into the thinking of many today who would be erstwhile
leaders of those who claim to be the followers of CHRIST. Such thinking is at
the heart of that teaching which claims that men can, by their own effort,
cause other men to be born into the Kingdom of GOD.
The LORD HIMSELF declares the origins of light and darkness, good and evil,
and peace and unrest. “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God
beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know
from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I
am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I
make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye
heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth
open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up
together; I the LORD have created it.” (Isa 45:5-8)
Such a declaration from the lips of the LORD needs no commentary, though the
vast majority of today’s “Bible teachers”, either ignore the passage completely
or spend much time in explaining why it doesn’t mean what it says. It is
striking, is it not, that the LORD actually anticipates such presumption in the
next verse when HE says, “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the
potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that
fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?” (Isa 45:9)
We have to confess that we are struck dumb with amazement when we read this
passage and are caused to fall upon our faces before HIM who has created all
things according to the good pleasure of HIS will. “Remember the former things
of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like
me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things
that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my
pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my
counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to
pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isa 46:9-11)
Darkness cannot exist apart from HIM who made it according to the good
pleasure of HIS will. HE has formed it in order to display the Glory of HIS
LIGHT which is both contrasted with and transcendent before it. In the
beginning (before which we have no knowledge); GOD did set forth that Creation
which we now can see. Darkness was upon the face of the deep. GOD then
declared, “Let there be LIGHT” and there was “LIGHT”. John speaks to us of
this LIGHT. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by
him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and
the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4) It is ever a wonder to me in the
consideration of the natural creation that LIGHT existed on the first day and
was separated (i.e.; contrasted) from the darkness. Yet the Sun was not
created until the fourth day, which belies the “scientific” explanation that
light emanates from the Sun. The Sun receives its illumination from HIM who is
the LIGHT of the world.
So, we understand that darkness was created by HIM to bring glory to HIS
NAME, as HE shines HIS LIGHT, for in HIM is no darkness at all. (see I John
1:5) HE would manifest the sons of GOD in the Earth by separating them from
the darkness to which the reprobate have been appointed to inhabit. “If we say
that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth.” (1John 1:6) “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light
of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life.” (John 8:12) “For God, who commanded the light to shine out
of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2Cor 4:6)
As the sons of GOD are appointed to dwell in the LIGHT, which no man can by
his own power or understanding ever approach unto, (see I Tim.6:16), so too are
the reprobate appointed to dwell in that darkness which they delight in. “And
this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19) They
have loved the wages of unrighteousness, “These are wells without water, clouds
that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for
ever.” (2Pet 2:17) “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame;
wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” (Jude
1:13)
There is indeed a great contrast between those who are the sons of GOD and
those who are not, as GOD is pleased to manifest HIS work in those whom HE has
loved with an everlasting love. For there is no difference between the elect
and the non-elect by nature. We are all born naturally into darkness and would
continue to delight ourselves therein apart from the grace of GOD who makes us
to differ from another. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in
trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others.” (Eph 2:1-3)
Peter describes that contrast with these words, “Unto you therefore which
believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the
builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of
stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the
people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”(1Pet
2:7-10) “Why was I made to hear THY voice and enter while there’s room, while
thousands make a wretched choice and rather starve than come. T’was the same
LOVE that spread the feast which sweetly forced us in, else we had still
refused to taste and perished in our sin.” (Isaac Watts)
The LORD told the Pharisee’s that their “hour” had now come. That purpose
for which they were created was fast approaching and they would act according
to the “power of darkness”, which they could not escape for they were both
snared in it and embracing it according to their own desire. This is that
“hour” which Peter declared, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel
and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and
slain.” (Acts 2:23) According to HIS good pleasure HE sent forth HIS SON into
this world and made the darkness for this “hour”, that HE might manifest HIS
eternal purpose in redeeming those whom HE loved from the beginning. “Giving
thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we
have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:12-14)
Are you of the LIGHT or the darkness? mam
