"Lost in Darkness"

Lost in Darkness

“For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark”

Ecclesiastes 2:14 (NLT) 

Christians sometimes call this time we live in, “the lost generation”; when our young people (many, but not all) have turned away from the church and from God.  How could this happen?  Because the last few generations before them gradually lost their way and began to live in darkness.  Even sadder is the fact that they don’t even know they are lost.

I marvel at the amount of well-educated people who belong to a church and are leaders in their businesses, communities, but have no knowledge of the Word of God and the power it contains. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.” [1 Corinthians 3:19 (NLT)] It is time for the Christian, young and old, to stop looking up to super stars and lying politicians. Don’t jump on their bandwagon just to be popular.  It’s what Jesus spoke about in Acts 2:20, “And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?”

When did ‘Faith’ leave and ‘Self-reliance’ take up residence in the Christian life?  We sing songs like, “The Lord is my strength and song”?  We quote scriptures just as, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.  Then we turn around and whine and cry about a situation; struggling to handle it all by ourselves.  What ever happened to “pray and wait on the Lord”?  The truth of the matter is – we don’t put our faith in God.

Did you know that many horse trainers put blinders on their horses because they keep the horse focused on what is in front of him, encouraging him to pay attention to the race rather than other distractions, such as looking back, or at the crowds off to the side? I believe that we need to wear blinders to keep us on the right track to run the race that’s before us. (Hebrews 12:21) With prayer, the Holy Spirit will be our blinders so we can run the race of life with endurance, keeping our eyes on the goal ahead.  To affirm this, we read in I John 1:15 “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” 

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be aware of everything happening around us, but to concentrate on the things of God instead of getting lost in the darkness of evil that invades this old world. The Truth of God says that there is coming a day of darkness such as we have never seen before.  “Yes, the day of the LORD will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope.” [Amos 5:20 (NLT)]  However, God will deliver us from this time if we are walking in his light.  Before that, Acts 2:20 tells us that, “The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.” 

I’m telling you all of this because so many are lost in the darkness of this world.  Many consider that America which was once known as a Christian nation, is no longer considered that.  Our president spoke openly about us no longer being a Christian nation.  However, at the same time, there is a voice calling from the distance, “Where are the true believers?”  Then a faint answer, “We are here, but we are few.”  That doesn’t bother God; he has used a few committed Believers to conquer many throughout the ages. 

As a child I used to dream a lot and then wake up in the darkness terrified because I didn’t know where I was.  I called out to my mother and she came quickly to comfort me and wipe away my tears. Just as a mother comes to her child when they cry out, so does God come quickly when a believer calls out to Him.  “God, I feel lost in the darkness – help me.”  He will answer your prayer.  He said he would never leave you or forsake you. 

There are times when all of us feel like we are losing the battle, but lift up the banner of faith and know that God has his eye on you.  Pray like you’ve never prayed before; trust like you’ve never trusted before and give yourself completely to Him like you have never done before.  Then when the sun bursts through the clouds praise God like you’ve never praised before.  Victory is yours!