Have you ever been outside after dark and seen something that was unfamiliar to you because of the darkness? You do not know if it is friend or foe. You cannot tell whether it is something that can cause harm or just simply harmless. It was an unknown form. Recently when I took my dogs out at night so that they could use the bathroom, I was looking out in the yard and saw something in the distance and was not sure exactly what I was seeing. I was concerned that it may be a coyote or fox that may grab my little dog and kill him. I could not quite make it out. I saw a form but did not see it clearly. During the light of day, I clearly saw it was not anything at all to be concerned about. I was just seeing a branch of my rose bush, but during the night when it was so dark outside, I really was not sure what was going on.
This thought came to me that this scenario can very easily be applied to our lives daily. Situations come in our paths that seem daunting and threatening and we panic about what we should do. Whether it is spiritual, emotional, financial or relational, we sometimes get so caught up in the event, we cannot see the whole story or the picture clearly. Our sight has been distorted by the circumstances of life.
Many times, the reason that we become so confused with the hits of life, is because we have drifted away from the way of the cross and have chosen the way of the world. Our life decisions have been tainted by the world’s ideas and demands.
Paul warns us in his letter to the Ephesians in chapter 5 to avoid the choices that cause us to walk in disobedience. He starts the chapter with reminding us that we should be imitators of Christ, to walk as Christ walked. He went on to stress the importance of us walking in love just as Christ walked in love. Christ loved so much that He gave His life as a sacrifice so that we can walk in the freedom and fullness of Christ. Paul goes on to warn us to avoid the darkness of this world that is reflected by participating in sexual immorality, all impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk. He said instead we should be focusing on giving thanks to God for His goodness and love.
Being in the Word of God every day and spending intimate time with God shines a light and dispels the darkness of the world. Paul cautioned us to not be deceived by empty words, words that lack the wisdom of God. The words that come from the world will lead us to disobedience. Paul warns that these words will deceive us and bring the wrath of God on us because of our disobedience. If we spend more time hearing the wisdom of the world through social media, secular music, secular television, and partnering with the unsaved or lukewarm we set ourselves up for deception. These secular things in themselves may not be wrong. It is wrong in the instance that we fail to read the Word of God and pray yet we spend hours on end in the secular things of the world. Paul warns us not to become partners with those that do not seek the wisdom of God, the wisdom found in the Bible. Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 6:14, Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Paul reminds us to remember that we were once just like the non-believers in that we also at one time walked in darkness. He reminds us that we no longer walk in darkness but in the light of the Lord. Because of this we should walk as children of the light. This light is seen through our doing what is good, right and true, this is the fruit that is seen in the children of light. We should never take any part in the unfruitful works of darkness; instead, we should expose such works of darkness with boldness.
Light reveals the truth of God. This truth is manifested in our life by our conversations and actions. Our conversations and actions influence the circumstances and people around us. The lives of Christians should be a rebuke to a sinful world. The light of Christ in us exposes the darkness that surround us. There is no darkness where the light of Christ shines brightly. The problem is that we have a tendency to hide our light in an effort not to offend anyone. Truth is the Word of God is offensive to those that live in darkness. When the light of Christ, the light that is within us is allowed to shine brightly we will discern truth from the lies of the enemy. The light of Christ enables us to see the true nature of a situation.
Paul admonishes us to wake up to the light, the truth, to arise from the dead and the darkness. As we awakened from our slumber, Christ will shine brightly through us. Do not go through the motions of living a Christian life. Walk this walk of faith with purpose, your God given purpose. Walk the way of Christ carefully and wisely. As followers of Christ choose to be all in. Do not just do enough to get by. Too much is at stake. There are souls including your own soul that will be affected by your life choices. Paul tells us to make the best use of our time because the days are evil, and darkness is always trying to encroach and take more territory for the kingdom of evil. It is time to fight for yourself, your family, your community, your country and for the entire earth. It is time to take territory for the Kingdom of God. There are souls that need to be reached for God.
When I started writing this lesson, I was mostly thinking about the individual struggles each of us must face from day to day. I was thinking of the importance of leaning into the Holy Spirit for discernment and wisdom from all our decisions of life. We all need to be made whole, body, soul, and spirit so that we can be a light for Christ. We need to be strong in Christ and setting the example of a follower of Christ shining brightly for the Kingdom of God. We overcome through our testimonies of the goodness and faithfulness of God.
David tells in Psalm 119:105, Nun Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The light of Christ shines the way for us, directing our footsteps, our decisions through the study of the Word of God. Each time you open the pages of the Bible to read and study we are strengthening and gain understanding of how to walk out this way of Christ. His Word shines a light on any darkness that tries to hide itself, bringing light to every part of your heart. Our way is made clearer with each word and passage we read. The Word of God brings comfort, instruction, wisdom, discernment, and strategy into our lives. None of us is an island unto ourselves. What we do affects everyone that we encounter whether it is face to face, through phone calls and texting or our comments on social media. Everything we say and do should go through the filter of the Word of God, the guidance of Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, shine brightly for Christ and the Kingdom of God today. Do not waver in your walk with God. Do not allow darkness to dim or even extinguish the light of Christ that is within you. It is of utmost importance that you shine brightly, dispelling the darkness that threatens to keep you and yours bound. Walk in the freedom of the light of Christ today!
Darkness Distorts
October 2, 2025 by admin • blog • 0 Comments
Have you ever been outside after dark and seen something that was unfamiliar to you because of the darkness? You do not know if it is friend or foe. You cannot tell whether it is something that can cause harm or just simply harmless. It was an unknown form. Recently when I took my dogs out
at night so that they could use the bathroom, I was looking out in the yard and saw something in the distance and was not sure exactly what I was seeing. I was concerned that it may be a coyote or fox that may grab my little dog and kill him. I could not quite make it out. I saw a form but did not see it clearly. During the light of day, I clearly saw it was not anything at all to be concerned about. I was just seeing a branch of my rose bush, but during the night when it was so dark outside, I really was not sure what was going on.
This thought came to me that this scenario can very easily be applied to our lives daily. Situations come in our paths that seem daunting and threatening and we panic about what we should do. Whether it is spiritual, emotional, financial or relational, we sometimes get so caught up in the event, we cannot see the whole story or the picture clearly. Our sight has been distorted by the circumstances of life.
Many times, the reason that we become so confused with the hits of life, is because we have drifted away from the way of the cross and have chosen the way of the world. Our life decisions have been tainted by the world’s ideas and demands.
Paul warns us in his letter to the Ephesians in chapter 5 to avoid the choices that cause us to walk in disobedience. He starts the chapter with reminding us that we should be imitators of Christ, to walk as Christ walked. He went on to stress the importance of us walking in love just as Christ walked in love. Christ loved so much that He gave His life as a sacrifice so that we can walk in the freedom and fullness of Christ. Paul goes on to warn us to avoid the darkness of this world that is reflected by participating in sexual immorality, all impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk. He said instead we should be focusing on giving thanks to God for His goodness and love.
Being in the Word of God every day and spending intimate time with God shines a light and dispels the darkness of the world. Paul cautioned us to not be deceived by empty words, words that lack the wisdom of God. The words that come from the world will lead us to disobedience. Paul warns that these words will deceive us and bring the wrath of God on us because of our disobedience. If we spend more time hearing the wisdom of the world through social media, secular music, secular television, and partnering with the unsaved or lukewarm we set ourselves up for deception. These secular things in themselves may not be wrong. It is wrong in the instance that we fail to read the Word of Go
d and pray yet we spend hours on end in the secular things of the world. Paul warns us not to become partners with those that do not seek the wisdom of God, the wisdom found in the Bible. Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 6:14, Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Paul reminds us to remember that we were once just like the non-believers in that we also at one time walked in darkness. He reminds us that we no longer walk in darkness but in the light of the Lord. Because of this we should walk as children of the light. This light is seen through our doing what is good, right and true, this is the fruit that is seen in the children of light. We should never take any part in the unfruitful works of darkness; instead, we should expose such works of darkness with boldness.
Light reveals the truth of God. This truth is manifested in our life by our conversations and actions. Our conversations and actions influence the circumstances and people around us. The lives of Christians should be a rebuke to a sinful world. The light of Christ in us exposes the darkness that surround us. There is no darkness where the light of Christ shines brightly. The problem is that we have a tendency to hide our light in an effort not to offend anyone. Truth is the Word of God is offensive to those that live in darkness. When the light of Christ, the light that is within us is allowed to shine brightly we will discern truth from the lies of the enemy. The light of Christ enables us to see the true nature of a situation.
Paul admonishes us to wake up to the light, the truth, to arise from the dead and the darkness. As we awakened from our slumber, Christ will shine brightly through us. Do not go through the motions of living a Christian life. Walk this walk of faith with purpose, your God given purpose. Walk the way of Christ carefully and wisely. As followers of Christ choose to be all in. Do not just do enough to get by. Too much is at stake. There are souls including your own soul that will be affected by your life choices. Paul tells us to make the best use of our time because the days are evil, and darkness is always trying to encroach and take more territory for the kingdom of evil. It is time to fight for yourself, your family, your community, your country and for the entire earth. It is time to take territory for the Kingdom of God. There are souls that need to be reached for God.
When I started writing this lesson, I was mostly thinking about the individual struggles each of us must face from day to day. I was thinking of the importance of leaning into the Holy Spirit for discernment and wisdom from all our decisions of life. We all need to be made whole, body, soul, and spirit so that we can be a light for Christ. We need to be strong in Christ and setting the example of a follower of Christ shining brightly for the Kingdom of God. We overcome through our testimonies of the goodness and faithfulness of God.
David tells in Psalm 119:105, Nun Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The light of Christ shines the way for us, directing our footsteps, our decisions through the study of the Word of God. Each time you open the pages of the Bible to read and study we are strengthening and gain understanding of how to walk out this way of Christ. His Word shines a light on any darkness that tries to hide itself, bringing light to every part of your heart. Our way is made clearer with each word and passage we read. The Word of God brings comfort, instruction, wisdom, discernment, and strategy into our lives. None of us is an island unto ourselves. What we do affects everyone that we encounter whether it is face to face, through phone calls and texting or our comments on social media. Everything we say and do should go through the filter of the Word of God, the guidance of Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, shine brightly for Christ and the Kingdom of God today. Do not waver in your walk with God. Do not allow darkness to dim or even extinguish the light of Christ that is within you. It is of utmost importance that you shine brightly, dispelling the darkness that threatens to keep you and yours bound. Walk in the freedom of the light of Christ today!