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An
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"Light for Those in Darkness" Several religious leaders once met with President Borja of Ecuador to discuss a ministry in Ecuadorian penitentiaries. They had barely begun the meeting when the President interrupted the conversation with the story of his OWN imprisonment years before being elected to the presidency. He had been involved in the struggle for democracy in Ecuador. The military cracked down, and he was arrested. Without trial, they threw him into a cold dungeon with no light and no window. For three days he endured the solitary fear and darkness that can drive a person mad. Just when the situation seemed unbearable, the huge steel door opened, and someone crept into the darkness. Borja heard the person working on something in the opposite corner. Then the figure crept out, closed the door, and disappeared. Minutes later the room suddenly blazed with light. Someone, perhaps taking his life into his hands, had connected electricity to the broken light fixture. "From that moment," explained President Borja, "my imprisonment had meaning because at least I could see." As we relate to Mr. Borja’s experience, we understand that with darkness comes fear, anxiety, confusion, even madness. With light, however, comes understanding, meaning, peace, even hope. In Scripture, SIN is called DARKNESS. It stands in opposition to Jesus, the Light of the world. The contrast is evident in the words of Jesus: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:19-20). The
good news is that Jesus came “to give light to
those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to
guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).
His answer to the darkness of sin is to believe
on Him (Acts 16:31), repent
of sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized
for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 22:16).
When we TRUST and OBEY Him, God
delivers us from the power of darkness and translates
us into the kingdom of the Son of His love”
(Colossians 1:13). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall NOT walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). Even more important than the light we see with our eyes is the light that Christ brings to our hearts, giving our lives the understanding and meaning that only He can give. Are you SITTING in darkness? COME into the Light! God bless you!
David A. Sargent,
Minister To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
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