Sunday, January 17, 2021

I Saw The Light!

Way back in 1978 I saw the light! It was then that I completely surrendered my life to Jesus. I saw myself as I really was...lost, undone, completely helpless to provide any solution to the greatest crisis of my life. My marriage blew up and my life fell apart. I was on the verge of losing my entire family.

I also saw Jesus as He really was; the answer to my entire life. Until then I had been blinded to the truth of the way things really were about myself, and Jesus. But I saw the light, and that changed everything. I have never been the same since! Thank God!

In 2 Corinthians Chapter 4 Paul says that when the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to unbelievers, as I was. This means that in order for an unbeliever to receive the gospel (Jesus), the veil must be lifted. Paul also states in the same chapter that the god of this world satan, is the one who blinds and obscures the minds of those who are unbelieving.  "...in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor. 4:4) It's quite obvious why the enemy formulates strategies to blind the eyes of the unbelieving. His ploy is to distract folks from seeing the light of the gospel, thus preventing them from seeing the light of the glory of Jesus Christ. This establishes the significance of the the gospel, and sharing it continually. It also confirms why the enemy hates the good news of Jesus and constantly formulates strategies to keep us from seeing the light of the gospel. If he can keep believers from sharing the good news of Jesus, he can keep unbelievers from seeing the light, and receiving Jesus.

"For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6) 2 Corinthians Chapter 4 establishes the truth that the Gospel (good news) of Jesus as Savior carries supernatural light. This purpose of this light is to illuminate the minds of unbelievers to the truth about themselves and Jesus. It is the sharing of the gospel that does this. Always remember, the good news of Jesus is more than just good news. It also brings spiritual light that enables us to see things that otherwise we would not see. I'm talking about things that keep us separated from God, and on our way straight to hell. Understand, the gospel must be shared in order for folks to be saved and for light to overpower the darkness that has bound so many. Jesus never made it an option.

When we share Jesus, light is launched into the hearts and minds of the unbeliever. How do I know this? Jesus said it Himself. "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'" (John 8:12) John, the Apostle also said of Jesus, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1: 4-5) (underline added.)

It's quite obvious to most of us what light means. But I want you to understand what the word "comprehend" means in the above verse. When we hear or speak the word "comprehend" we hear the world "understand." But from the original Greek the word also means "to take eagerly, that is to seize, posses, or to overtake." It also means "to come upon, or to apprehend." John is saying above that the light of Jesus (and the good news of Him) shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot seize or possess or overtake or come upon or apprehend the light! The truth is exactly the opposite. Light ALWAYS dispels darkness. Always, when applied!

Let me briefly share a natural analogy. Let's say it's nighttime. The lights are off in your kitchen. So you enter the room and turn on the lights. As soon as the lights come on the darkness is immediately dispelled from the room. On the other hand, let's say the lights are already on. Your kitchen is filled with light. You open up a cabinet door in which are no lights. Will the room be immediately filled with darkness? Of course not. Why? Because light always dispels the darkness. Light (natural or spiritual) always overtakes and overpowers the darkness!

Here's something you need to ponder and never forget as well. Where there is the absence of light, there is darkness. But where there is an absence of darkness, it because the light has dispelled the darkness. My prayer is that you can see the significance of sharing the gospel of Jesus. We should be intent to do so certainly because Jesus has commanded us to do it. But realize that the gospel carries the light that removes the veil from the minds of the unbelieving. And God so designed it so that the more people hear the good news, which carries supernatural light, the more their faith rises to receive Jesus into their lives. (See Romans 10:17)

I am convinced the reason we find our world in the shape it is in today is because the church, Jesus' body in the earth has failed to boldly declare the gospel of Jesus Christ to our world. The darkness that seems to be gaining control of our world can be dispelled by God's people declaring the light of the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Some folks are convinced that since the Bible says that in the last days perilous times will come, we should just lay down and live any way we desire. They say "Things are simply going to get worse." Sadly, they are blinded to the reality of who and what God's church is all about! Paul said, "The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." (Romans 5:20) (Underline added.) Please get to know this principle.

Jesus told us that All authority has been given to Him in heaven and on the earth. Then He said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:15-18)

Certainly we need the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this. But we must also be obedient to the call to "Go" or the Holy Spirit's hands are tied. Let's make the year 2021 the year in and through which we begin to declare the powerful gospel of Jesus. Let's commit to being His obedient vessels through which the light of the gospel of Jesus is propagated, removing the veil from over the minds of the unbelieving. If you truly believe that the light dispels the darkness, then rise up and go my friends.

Check out my video teaching "The Light Of The Gospel" here: https://youtu.be/Lm0CO7pzezY And while there, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thanks so much!

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