09/08/2023 - A GREAT LIGHT

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The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.  Mathew 4.16

The fall in the garden of Eden, when Adam accepted the devil’s lie and ate of the fruit that Eve had already tasted, put us in the seat of defeat (read Genesis, chapter 3). All that God had planned for the being created in His image and likeness was lost. So, the Lord had to cast out the couple, who lived under His care and His perfection. This was the sentence that hung over us: we could no longer be seen by the Most High; otherwise we would be destroyed.

Darkness was Adam and Eve’s company. Soon, children were born, which was their joy. But one killed the other, and thus our first parents saw how wrong they had been (read Genesis, chapter 4). They could not forgive themselves for having disobeyed the divine command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of good and evil. Settled in the region of darkness, they were out of fellowship with God and without the chance to reverse the act of disobedience. All this lasted for almost four millennia!

The Lord prepared a surprise for man, making him see the great Light that came into the world to take us out of the devil’s hands and make us His people. The message began to be preached by Jesus, as the Scriptures relate: Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1.14,15). Believe!

The great Light totally frees us from darkness, filling us with faith and courage to assume our new position. From sitting in the regions of death we are now delivered from that evil and seated in the Son of God Himself, the Heir of all things seen and unseen: and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2.6). Our present Chair is the very Person of the Godhead that created everything!

This Light is present when two or three of us, the saved, gather in His Name (Matthew 18.20). It gives us power over hell, fills us with wisdom, and uses us as we give ourselves to the Lord (Luke 10.19). We are doing some of the same works that Jesus did, but we can and should believe that we can do more, coming close to being like Him (John 14.12). Observing what the Master said, we will perform greater works. The Light is working in us!

People who served religions for a good purpose, but still sat in the region of the shadow of death – far from the position revealed by the Scriptures – will also be delivered. After all, good intentions help little. When they hear of what Jesus did on behalf of all in His death, they will receive their long awaited deliverance and go into the arms of the Most High. When the Light shines, everyone follows its radiance!

There is much to be done for mankind – for man has lost his way in the mazes of error and failure. It is all about seeking the Light in the Bible and proclaiming it. The sincere will observe it and give themselves to the Savior. The day will come when people will give God the attention He deserves. Then everyone will be taught by Him. Believe and go to the Light!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares