Dealing with the Darkness

...(W)e must summon our courage and
our faith to deal with the darkness."

One of the things that we want to recognize in regards to the judgment of God is that there is an aspect of division that takes place when God decides to execute His divine judgment. 

We see this specifically when God was releasing the various plagues upon Egypt before delivering the children of Israel. During one of the plagues, God distinguished between the Egyptians and the children of Israel (Exodus 10). The distinction was marked by light and darkness. Saints, we are preparing to enter a season where God is prepared to distinctly distinguish between that which is "light" and that which is "darkness." This is significant, because if we don't deal with the darkness, we could actually find ourselves on the wrong side of the judgment of God.

We see this principle of distinction and division from God, "In the beginning" (Genesis 1). There are scholars that contend that when God was speaking to the earth while the earth was still void and dark (Genesis 1), that divine judgment had already been executed to make the earth in this condition. Be that as it may, we notice that the first thing the Bible records Jehovah as saying is, "Let there be Light". As we continue to read the narrative, we find that God proceeds to distinguish and divide the light from the darkness. The light is not designed to eliminate the darkness, but rather to illuminate it. As we move into this season of judgment, our job as the "children of Light" (Ephesians 5) is to expose the darkness, not necessarily extinguish it.

With this charge upon us, it is incumbent upon every believer to start to take serious inventory and examine the darkness that is within each and every one of us. All of us have, in the words of Star Wars, a "dark side." That's the whole issue of the sinful nature and the carnal mind. It is enmity with God (Romans 8). The challenge with the darkness within us, even as Christians, is that it is so subtle. But remember, that's how Satan works. We want to take the time to examine ourselves (1Corinthians 11) and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us those hidden pockets of darkness that still reside in our heart, mind and soul. We don't have time to ignore the darkness, we must be proactive in dealing with the darkness.

The last area that we want to address in dealing with the darkness is our fellowship with the darkness. The scripture clearly states that light has no communion with darkness (2 Corinthians 6). There are some associations, some relationships, some affiliations, that we have established that do not represent the Light of God but the darkness of the Enemy. Now is not the time for compromise! Now is not the time to "go along to get along." Now is the time to expose the darkness by standing in the light! Will you lose some friends over it? Yes. Will you be called out and persecuted as a result of it? More than likely. But will your Heavenly Father be pleased? Absolutely! Will you be rewarded? You better believe it! 

Christians and saints of God can no longer sit by and tolerate blasphemous and idolatrous behavior before our God! We've GOT to call the darkness out. God has our back (Isaiah 58). He will go before us (Joshua 5). But we must summon our courage and our faith to deal with the darkness.