June 12 I Sunday

Ezra 3-5

John 20

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”   

—2 Corinthians 4:4

In the time of Jesus, there was a spiritual darkness. Even the people of God in the New Testament, the Pharisees and the experts of the law, had embraced the darkness by making their religious expression an idol and taking God’s truth and contorting it to their own desires. There was a hypocrisy in their lives that Jesus confronted. We also find moral darkness as evil is called good and good is called evil; they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and no longer worshipped the God of creation, but started worshipping the creation itself. 

       The opening verse of this devotion tells us that the god of this age has blinded the minds of people so that they cannot see the light of who Christ is. There is still a pervading darkness in world philosophies and various religions that draw people away from the truth of Jesus. The darkness of atheism that says, “I don’t need God. I don’t believe in God. I’m fine just the way I am.” The darkness of postmodernism that says, “There is no truth. You live by your truth and I’ll live by mine.” The darkness of universalism that says, “All paths lead to the same God. All world religions are ultimately worshipping the same deity.” The darkness of spirituality that says, “Think positive thoughts into the universe and receive positive energy.” There is a darkness that can take all kinds of forms in the world. Sadly, some people in our world give more thought to what they are going to have for lunch than where they are going to spend eternity.

       The problem is that we can actually grow comfortable and familiar with the dark, making it our home and fight against the light while we embrace the darkness. John tells us, “This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” There is a sinfulness in humanity and we are afraid of getting caught in the light, so we want to scurry back to the darkness as fast as we can. But John continues, “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light…” (John 3:19-21). 

       Unless we have embraced Jesus as the light of the world and asked Him to be our personal Lord and Saviour, we are still living in darkness. Would we choose to step out of the darkness and come into the light of Jesus Christ today?

Prayer: Precious Jesus, You are the light of this world. I choose to step out of the darkness and come into Your light. I want to live by Your truth. Thank You, Jesus.