March 2010

The gospel of God’s redeeming grace gleams brightly against the background of sin’s ever darkening shadows. The prophet’s initial indication of the Saviour’s coming was to herald the light that would illuminate those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death.Isaiah 9:2. In the opening chapters of John’s gospel the apostle goes to great lengths to emphasise the fact that Jesus alone is the light of the world. It is not possible to escape the darkness without Him. Darkness is the citadel of evil, the birthplace of despair. It breeds lonliness and isolation, for while laughter and conversation may be heard and shared, the heart remains void of all that truly satisfies. The unregenerate heart is not only in the darkness, but the darkness is also in the unregenerate heart, for in the melancholy sympathy of unrighteousness the nature of them both is merged as one.

Pauls bold and emphatic observation of unsanctified human nature is clearly stated in his reminder to recipients of grace,”For you were once darkness”. Eph.5:8. Paul again comments in Col.1:13 that God has graciously and irrevocably delivered His elect from the power of darkness. The redeemed are drawn out of the darkness, and the darkness is driven out of the redeemed.cp.1Peter2:9. God’s people are no longer in darkness for they are now “in Christ”, and as John declares, “In Him there is no darkness at all” 1John1:5 In the strength of this glorious revelation let us walk in the light as He is in the light and cast off the works of darkness,as we live each day in the light of His presence.

Robert& Fiona

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