Yesterday we started with Part One, Pathway of Righteousness. Today, let’s look at Part Two, Pathway of Darkness. The second part of our key scripture was, “But the way of the wicked is like a deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” (Proverbs 4: 19)
Why don’t they know what makes them stumble? Maybe they are spiritually blinded, not by the light, but by the veil of darkness that the enemy has placed upon their eyes. It’s like a mask covering what is in front of them.
As I looked at the cross-references I learned that deep darkness is a dangerous path that leads to destruction. Who would want to make that their destination?
Unwise men “Leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways.” (Proverbs 2: 13)
The future of those walking in darkness does not portray a life that is pleasant. For those rejecting the Son of God; Deuteronomy 32: 35 says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” Uh-oh!
Look at the difference: “The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.” (Proverbs 13: 9)
Have you ever tried walking in the dark? We can’t see where we are going. Isaiah defines it this way: “We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind, we grope along the wall feeling our way like men without eyes.” (Isaiah 59: 9-10)
Oh how sad! That’s how living in spiritual darkness leaves us. We see it in our world today!
Kingdom-minded believers know that the light belongs in the darkness so others can see a new day has dawned.
God is clearly defining light or darkness. No more can we stand in the light and darkness. It’s one or the other. God does say that He shall separate the goats from the sheep. He is redefining and reshaping His church, and our walk in Him, the Light–who is the Light of Life.
Darkness is not in Him, so we must not play around with it any longer. Why would we want to grope around not seeing where we are going? We are on a pathway, so we need the light of His Word to be a lamp for our path.
Jesus chats with His disciples about darkness. Lazarus, their friend, has just died. He gets word prior to come and heal him while he was sick, but Jesus chooses to stay two more days, not rushing to the aid of his friend.
He wanted to go back to Judea, but the disciples remind Him that they had tried to stone Him while they were there. There was danger in going that way. But Jesus responds by saying that there are twelve hours in the day. Then He adds, “A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.” (John 11: 9-10)
- Our time doing the Lord’s work is limited.
- In the end, there will be a day when darkness will fall and the light will cease.
In the next chapter Jesus once again is teaching about light and darkness saying, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer, walk while you have the light before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.” (John 12: 35) Yep, He says it again!
He told them to walk before the darkness overtook them. We don’t want to be stuck in the darkness. The end of the world will be dark; so will eternal darkness without Jesus. We are reminded, “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in the darkness we lie and do not live by the truth.” (1 John 1: 6-7)
Kingdom-minded followers know the Lord is removing the gray areas of our walk.
He is redefining and strengthening our walk with Him. He is making us stand up tall and helping us in taking our position in Him and in the power of the Holy Spirit. He is building an army and a family all at the same time. He is causing us to call sin, sin and darkness, darkness.
He shall make a distinction in us that will set us apart, as we look to Him, the Light of Life!
Keeping marching Saints of God our path has been marked out. The Commander of the Army is Jesus, who is in charge, seated at the right hand of God the Father, watching and waiting to come for His Beloved, Bride who has combat boots on. We are called the church, the family of God, His army, the body, and His bride.
I propose to you that He separated the darkness so those walking in it, would need light, would need Him, the Light of the World.
The darkness needs the light.
KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: Don’t be afraid of the darkness. Walk into it with your armor on, your shield in your hand, and His Light shining forth. Oh and don’t forget to tie up your shoelaces our feet need to be secured not flopping around.
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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