The LIght Is Jesus The Christ

John 3:16-21 KJV

Living In Darkness

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

                                                                                       (John 3:19-21 KJV)

I understand that there is this place called the dark web. I don't know where it's at. I have never searched for it. Because of my limited computer skills, I probably could not find it if I tried. In that place you can purchase things like illegal weapons, stolen credit cards, drugs, to name just a few things. It is a place of such darkness that I have no inclination to go there. Yet, many do. I also understand that many legitimate things are there as well. But, mostly not. The legitimate things might make it sound like it is not such a bad place, after all. The legitimate things are used to justify what is darkness.

The dark web is not the only place where the good helps to legitimize the darkness of our hearts. Humankind likes to cover what is dark within it with some outward appearances of goodness. Mostly these outward appearances are lies. Lies are used so that the light of truth cannot shine on the real intents.

This morning, I started to read the news online. I could not. There are so many contradictory stories out there about everything, it is quite apparent that some  (who knows? maybe all?) of them are covering up something. It seems impossible to actually read or watch real news. Everything seems to be so editorialized it causes me to wonder what darkness is being hidden under what is being offered as the truth. And, when public figures or the media are caught in the lies, it seems as though they delve deeper into the darkness by adding more lies to the lies to try to justify the deceptions. They refuse to allow the truth to be brought into the light. Rather the lies are covered up with more lies from the dark side.

It is not so different in our personal lives. We like to pretend that the lies about who we really are or what we do are truth. We like to pretend that darkness is light. But, it is not. Darkness will destroy a person, a community, a country, even the world.

We all fall prey to hiding in the darkness from time to time. We are all sinners. However, the Christian knows better and tries to avoid it. We know that in order to follow Jesus we have to come out into the light. We cannot retreat into the darkness in order to hide our sins. We want them forgiven not hidden.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Beware Of Those Who Devour Others

"Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,  the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,  who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” Mark 12:38-40

Beware of the scribes; beware of anyone who would place themselves before and above others. They are not there to help others; but, to help themselves under the pretense of helping others.

Beware of the pretentious. Those long prayers and speeches of the pretentious are there to sway you to their way of thinking and not necessarily God's way or will. Beware, that their smooth words are not swaying you to follow in a way that you should not be going in.

We are inundated with political speeches. We are inundated with biased media. What a circus it has become! Listen carefully and beware of those who place themselves before others; who think more highly of themselves than they ought. With their smooth tongues they can make what is good look like sin and what is sin look like it is a good thing. Beware of those who claim to want to help the poor and needy and; yet, get richer while the poor get poorer.

Beware of the false prophets. We have a God who will guide us in all things. Listen to Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J