According to Psalm 1, Blessed is the man who sitteth not in the seat of the scornful. The man who is in the deepest darkness is the one who thinks he is in the light, but sits in spiritual darkness. John 3:20 says, "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." David said in Psalm 139:23, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts." 1 John 1:6-7 says, "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we live in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin." Righteousness is not in the eyes of man. Righteous judgment is according to the righteous standard of the Word of God. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away - Isaiah 64:6. However, God's righteousness is imputed to those who are covered with the righteous robes of Jesus Christ.
The book of James 4:17 says, "he who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." The devil will shame us into wallowing in the depth of sin and depravity. He reminds us that in the flesh dwelleth no good thing – Romans 7:18. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this dead body? – Romans 7:24. We may deceive ourselves, but Jesus will reveal our hearts when we come to Him with a humble and a contrite heart. For when we walk in fellowship with him, according to 2 Corinthians 3:18, "we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed from the glory (of the flesh) to the glory (of the spirit,) even by the spirit of God."
The story of the prodigal son is the story of the forgiving father. Like the prodigal son, in the midst of the pig pen of this world, when we "come to ourselves" and realize that of myself I am nothing," only then can we say to ourselves, "I will arise and go unto my father." This is the point of repentance; to turn from the darkness of this world and toward the light of the Word, the Son of God. Wealth is not in the riches of this world, rather it is in the riches of the Spirit. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me." – John 14:6. He also said, "I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will enter in and will eat with him and he with me" – Revelation 3:20. We will eat together as friends in fellowship.
God has called his people for such a time as this ... to live in the light as he is in the light – 1 John 1:7. One committed Christian is all it takes: only one disciple speaking by the Spirit of the living God. For it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure – Philippians 2:13. God has called us to be good stewards of that which he has entrusted to our keeping ... the gospel of repentance, forgiveness, salvation, and freedom from the bondage of sin. Where is your allegiance? To who are you devoted? Who is “number one” in your life? Do you value your human rights above your righteousness in Christ? Who is your Commander in Chief? The question is not who we are, but rather, whose we are. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live I live by the faith of Jesus Christ who loved me and gave himself for me – Galatians 2:20. Therefore, chose ye this day whom ye shall serve ... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord -Joshua 24:15.
Let your light so shine before men, and in the midst of the darkness of this fallen world ... Give 'em heaven!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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