"From Darkness To Light" - Inspirational Weekend

My previous post concerned itself with the darkness of a pagan holiday.  This weekend let us consider what is good, and pure, and holy; what can bring happiness and give one a sense of peace.

"Then spake Jesus 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  (KJV)

Christ is truly and aptly compared to and most fittingly represented by light. One commentator has said, "The great end and errand of Christ's coming into the world, was to give light unto poor souls that sat in darkness."

All true believers remember how they were in darkness and sin and misery before they came to a saving faith in Jesus.  To know Jesus loves us and how He died a sacrificial death out of love for mankind, and that our sins are forgiven once we come to faith and belief in Him as our Savior who can wash away all of our sins,  then... and only then... can we find true happiness now and can look forward to an eternity of living in bliss with the good Lord.

No true disciple shall walk in the darkness.  Instead, he shall have as his own the Light of Life.  Light implies knowledge, guidance, safety, and holy purity.  So those who closely, humbly and steadily follow Christ shall have the Divine Light continually shining upon them.  Remember also, when you become a true follower of Jesus Christ and you are born again, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).  The Holy Spirit will guide you and keep you on the right path... the path of righteousness.   

"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."  -  John 14:16, 17

It takes faith in Jesus to be saved, to be born again from above.  Charles Spurgeon had it correct when he said,  "Would you be comfortable and happy?  Would you enjoy religion?  Would you have the religion of cheerfulness and not that of gloom? Then have faith in God.  If you love darkness and are satisfied to dwell in gloom and misery, then be content with little faith; but if you love the sunshine, and would sing songs of rejoicing, covet earnestly this best gift, Great faith."

"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men."  -  John 1:4

God is declared to be Life or the Living God because He is the source or fountain of life.  This is also true of Jesus Christ, of course.  The Messiah was predicted as the Light of the world:  Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 60:1.

Psalm 89:15 tells us, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance."

One commentator explains Psalm 89:15 by saying, "Being blessed with the light of truth, and being enabled to walk therein, they shall live under the comfortable influences of Thy love and favor."

"For Thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness."  -  Psalm 18:28

"For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see Light."  -  Psalm 36:9

Be happy !

Be blessed !  

But what if you are an unbeliever?

Can you see from all the above quoted Scriptures how much the good Lord loves you?!  That He longs to welcome you to the family of God as one of His beloved children?

Turn from sin and darkness !  Be free from the devil's evil plot to keep you in his grasp which suffocates you and renders you helpless to be free and full of joy.  Turn to the good Lord in faith and belief and break free from the devil's hold on you. 

Jesus is waiting with open arms, ready to embrace you in love and forgiveness.

If you have not been born again, turn to Him in true repentance and pray for forgiveness.  Believe Jesus is the Savior whose shed blood at Calvary can wash your sins away, if you have faith in Him.  Also, the Scriptures tell us to believe in Christ's resurrection.

Romans 10:9,10,13 tells us : (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.(10)For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."   -   John 14:6

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."   -  John 3:16

"What Is True Christianity" (Video with Dr. Michael Lake)

Are you a professing Christian or a carnal Christian?  Or are you truly saved and witnessing about Jesus to others?  Are you actually born again and thereby connected with God?  Do you commune with the Lord daily in prayer and "hear" Him speak as you daily read His Holy Word?

Christianity is not only a religion, but first and foremost it is a relationship with the Creator.  In the following video (38 minutes long) Dr. Michael Lake discusses about what it means to be a Christian, as well as other topics ...such as the mark of the beast.   The video is titled "Are You a Christian or just saved? Dr. Michael Lake says what the Church won't!"

Dr. Lake says we need to understand what it means to walk in Biblical holiness.... to live a life so that the Holy Spirit is not grieved whereby He pulls back and away from you.  He also states that being connected to the throne of God is the only way you will know true peace.  

Now is the time to turn to the Lord with all your heart, and soul, and mind and strength in love for Him; to come to a saving knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah, the promised Savior and to surrender your entire being, your whole life, to Him and to repent of your sins and begin to lead a godly life.  He will help you to do just that if you believe in Him and in His resurrection.   

Time is short.  Jesus will return soon to take true believers to be in heaven with Him, before the seven-year Tribulation begins.   You do not want to be left behind to face the wrath of God on the unrepentant and ungodly people during the Tribulation !

Repent.

Confess your sins.

Admit you are a sinner.

Ask for forgiveness.

Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord and Master.

Believe in His resurrection.

Be totally surrendered to the Lord.

"(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  -  Romans 10: 9,10,13

Remember what Jesus said at John 6:37 ,  "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."

"And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall seek for Me with all your heart."  -  Jeremiah 29:13

In these perilous end times we are now living in, you need a firm Anchor to keep you grounded in the Lord's truth and in His loving arms.  Some people, even professing Christians, are fearful of all the chaos and violence and turmoil happening right now and are in dread of what the future may hold.  Read your Bible and pray without ceasing, and you will find the peace only God can give you.  Remember, the Bible tells us the glorious end of all things:

GOD WINS ! ! 

A wise choice is what Isaiah 55:6 tells us:

"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:"