Crisis of Darkness

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

(John 12:46)

On November 4th 1979 52 citizens of the U.S. were held hostage for 444 days, in what was known as the Iran Hostage Crisis, I was about 8 or 9 when I remember seeing the news footage of the hostages being lead outside of the U.S. Embassy in Iran blindfolded. It’s been thirty years since & watching the reunion of the captives & seeing the old footage brings back memories, for me it was what Star Wars figure I wanted next, but for Barry Rosen, one of the 52, there was a much different, more terrifying memory of intense interrogation and pain. His quote was “For 2 months we didn’t see any light at all. We were absolutely in total darkness.” Can you imagine being in total darkness for 2 months? No sunshine, no beautiful candlelight…just darkness.

Total darkness is a place that a lot of people today, if they are honest, are smack dab in the middle of , it may be the darkness caused by problems in a Christians life that they have no control over, like an unwanted divorce, money trouble, loss of a job, loss of a loved one or a teen gone haywire. The darkness maybe from never placing their faith in Jesus, but whatever the cause…it’s not a fun place to be. Some may disguise it well…a Christian may put on a mask to go to church so everyone will think things are great & an unbeliever may search for happiness by partying…either way they are both in a form of darkness & despite the outward appearance…they are hurting.

In John 12:46 Jesus said that He had “come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” We can come out of the darkness…but we won’t do it alone…allow Jesus to guide you out. If you’re a Christian get with God & ask Him to guide you through this & get with another believer & ask for prayer & allow them to counsel with you. If you’re lost…come to Jesus now…don’t put it off any longer…the darkness only gets darker…but there is hope...hope in Christ.

Vern

Automatic Love Service

“…for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
(Luke 10:42)

When Jesus sat down in Martha & Mary’s house, so did Mary…right at Jesus feet. She was intently listening to His every word, not noticing that she had left her sister Martha to do all the work…but Martha noticed. Her words to Jesus were, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” Jesus told Martha that she was worried about too many things…but Mary was showing her love for Jesus, with her worship. Her heart was solely on Christ & His words, He said that “Mary has chosen the good part…” and that it would not be taken from her.

When it comes to a decision between love & service Jesus wants our love much more than anything else & often our service can get in the way of our love for Him. Charles H. Spurgeon once said: 

“Give us a church that loves Jesus Christ much. You will have mighty prayer-meetings; you will have a holy membership; you will have liberal giving to the cause of Christ; you will have hearty praising of his name; you will have careful walking before the world; you will have earnest endeavors for the conversion of sinners. Missions at home and abroad will be set on foot when love is fervent.” 

When people truly love God, there will be no problem in getting them to serve, it will be automatic. But service for service sake…is not service done out of love and it will not glorify God.

Vern

The Vegetable Church

"He is also head of the body, the church"
(Clossians 1:18)

I had actually felt God leading me to write this several months ago, I was reluctant to put it out after I wrote it...but feel as though I should now.

The American church today is like a body that has been paralyzed from the neck down. A body who's head is fine...in fact the church's head is perfectly fine, but its the body that isn't functioning correctly. Its the body that will not follow & take guidance from the head. For the body to be paralyzed there has to be a problem between the Body & the head...our problem is our sin.

There is no life in the church today. I'm not talking about the Benny Hinn crap of slapping you in the head & making you twitch on the floor, But real, true life...life that only comes from the Son...the head of the church. We are told in God's word, and I blogged about it last time, that, "He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life" (1 John 5:12). Our churches do not need another "Great Awakening"...no we are too far passed that in our American churches...no we need a great reviving. We are not asleep in America...we are DEAD! You've been to funerals where people always say about the deceased, "They look good" or "They look so natural...like they're just asleep." Death is not natural...dead is dead & you can't look natural dead. We need to be revived...not a half week preaching with some good music & food, but to be revived...brought back to life or back to the Life, we need to individually search our own hearts before God & make a decision to repent & follow Him, whole heartedly in selfless devotion. God doesn't want our churchiness, He doesn't want our good works or our fancy church buildings...He wants our hearts!

When Jesus went to raise his friend Lazarus from the dead, He said "Remove the stone" from the tomb. But Mary, Lazarus' sister said, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days"...But I'm telling you that the church in America has been dead way longer than four days & we stink to high Heaven...we are a stench in the nostrils of God.

It is time that we are revived, raised from the dead! But are we too far gone? No, Jesus also said to Mary the sister of Lazarus, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" We are to believe that God can still revive this church in America & I believe He has already started...He has been putting us in the place we need to be...on our knees. He has showed us that we are not to depend on the economy or anything else other than Him. We can not function without Him. We have tried for too long to run the body without the head, but no matter how much make-up we put on it, how natural we try to make it look...we are still dead & the body can't work that way.

When Jesus raised Lazarus He cried out, "Lazarus come forth!" God is crying out to us the American church to "COME FORTH! Come Forth & Live! Be Revived!" But how much longer will He call?

Vern

Live Trees?

He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
(1 John 5:12)

When Christmas time rolls around and you want a real tree you go down to the lot to pick one up. When you pull up you see the sign that they have out in front of the lot that reads “Live Trees”, but truth be known…those trees are not alive. They have been cut off from their source of life. Now they still look alive, you take them home & decorate them up real pretty & all, but they are slowly dying, they are in a state of decay. It want be long until you can see the decay. You can leave your decorations on it to try and help it look alive, but…it’s dead.

Much like that tree, unbelievers & Christians often try to live away from their source of nutrients & life. They try to live without Jesus altogether or not spending time with Him daily. They may attend church & often do…they even come in all dressed up in their “Christian” decorations, trying to cover up the decay. But sooner or later, their decay will start to show.

1 John 5:12 tells us that if we have Jesus we have life, it’s when you do not accept that life or you neglect that life that you die. Now a Christian will not lose their salvation, but they will spiritually dry up…with no sign of a spiritual life & become plagued with trouble through bad decisions. They will also become a stumbling block for new & weak believers as well as non-believers. Their life will give no glory to God, but will only hinder the Christian witness.

If you are in this state & are reading this blog…take the time to evaluate your life. Do you feel that God is convicting you of the life you have been living? Do you feel that you need to accept Him, ask Him to come into your life & turn it over to Him? Or do you know that you are saved, but that you have been trying to live without being totally attached to your spiritual food source of a time with God daily? Whatever the case, all you have to do is come to Jesus & tell Him the problem…He wants you to be saved & His will is for you to walk with Him. He’s just waiting on you. He will never give up on you…but He will not make you, so it’s up to you. Is He calling you? Are you listening? Take this new year & become the new person Jesus wants you to be.

Vern