Light Obeyed or Light Refused - Part 1

Jesus said: “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind�?(John 9:39). Those who claimed to be full, Jesus sent away empty. Those who claimed to be righteous, were sent away unforgiven. And those who claimed to see, remained blind.

Once a man hears the gospel, and his heart is opened to the Word of God, if he does not act upon that light and believe in Jesus Christ, his condemnation is doubled. Not only is he judged for the disease; he is also judged that he refused the cure.

Light obeyed increases light; light refused increases darkness. Romans 1:21 says, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.�?/P>

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Light Obeyed or Light Refused - Part 2

Once a man hears the gospel, and his heart is opened to the Word of God, if he does not act upon that light and believe in Jesus Christ, his condemnation is doubled. Not only is he judged for the disease; he is also judged that he refused the cure.

John 3:19-20 says, “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.�?/P>

When God comes to judge the world, He’s not going to judge the world primarily by the sin that was committed, but by the Light that was rejected. We are born blind beggars, but those blind eyes can be opened by the grace of God.

Salvation is not just turning on the light; the heart and mind have to be opened and quickened to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Once the heart and mind are opened and quickened, then we live up to the light we have, and we are stepping in the light until we come to Jesus.

“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).

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More Than Any Other Person

The Bible says in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it.�?nbsp; Some translations read gave Himself up for it.  Your wife must know that she comes before the children and before your own mother and father.  “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife.�?nbsp;

Joyce knows that she is number one of all the people on the face of this earth.  In my life, she is number one.  And I know beyond the shadow of any doubt that I am number one in Joyce’s life.  That gives me a sense of security to think that of all of the people who live today or who have ever lived, there is one person who loves me more than any other person on the face of the earth. 

What a feeling that is to my heart to know that she loves me that way.  And she is to know that I love her and that she is number one.  Therefore, I need to treat her as Christ treated the church --- that Jesus gave Himself for the church.

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The Plague of Alcohol

People are saying, "What are we going to do about AIDS? What are we going to do about cancer?" I want to ask you, "What are we going to do about those people who are dying as a result of alcohol?"

If alcohol was like any other plague bringing death and destruction, everyone in the entertainment industry would be doing telethons to raise support, sending out informational literature to build awareness, and doing everything they could to stop it! I venture to say that there would be rewards offered if people could find a cure.

More than 300 persons die every week in alcohol-related car crashes. What if a plane went down each week killing all 300 people on board? Each week, you saw this on the news! Do you think there would be a Congressional investigation? Do you think that the U.S. Department of Transportation would launch an all-out investigation? Of course they would!

Instead, the liquor industry and its lobbyists have done a good job of concealing the destructive secret of alcohol. Proverbs 20:1 says, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

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The Mocker of Alcohol

I want to tell you that it is King Alcohol that is making our highways slaughter pens and ruining domestic tranquility in our homes.

People start out drinking for happiness, then it only makes them unhappy. Drinking produces one contradiction after another.

Drink for friendship and make an enemy. Drink for sleep and awaken without rest. Drink for strength and feel weak. Drink medicinally and acquire health problems. Drink for relaxation and get the shakes. Drink for bravery and become afraid. Drink for confidence and become doubtful.

Drink to converse easier and get slurred speech. Drink to feel “heavenly�?and end up feeling “hellish." Drink to forget and are forever haunted. Drink for freedom and become slaves. Drink to erase problems and see them multiply. Drink to cope with life and invite death.

What a mockery alcohol makes of this society! Proverbs 23:29-35 warns,

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long over wine, those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perverse things. And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, or like one who lies down on the top of a mast. "They struck me, but I did not become ill; they beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink. (NASB)

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Demanding Signs and Miracles

What is wrong with asking for signs and miracles? Nothing. Jesus did them. But, there is something wrong when we begin to demand signs and wonders. It dishonors God. It says, “God, I can’t take You at Your Word; You’ve got to prove yourself to me.�?/P>

The disciple Thomas said, “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe�?(John 20:25).

When Thomas saw Jesus, he fell down on his knees (and rightly he should have). He said, “Lord, I believe…my Lord and my God�?(John 20:28).  But here’s what Jesus said to him: “Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed�?(John 20:29).

When you demand signs, not only is it dishonoring to God, but it is also dangerous to man. Signs and wonders can be very deceiving.

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Growing In Times of Despair - Part 1

What is God’s plan for you? God wants to enlarge you, not indulge you. God is not nearly as interested in making you happy and healthy, as He is in making you holy.

Knowing that, you will then understand that sometimes God will bring trouble into your life. Psalm 4:1 says, “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer�?(emphasis mine).

When have you grown spiritually? For most, it is when our good friend Trouble came along. That’s when you’ve been stretched. Now, we all enjoy a trouble-free life, but I can give this testimony: I have grown the most in my own life, in times of deepest despair.

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Growing In Times of Despair - Part 2

God is not nearly as interested in making you happy and healthy, as He is in making you holy. Knowing that, you will then understand that sometimes God will bring trouble into your life. Psalm 4:1 says, “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer�?

I have grown the most in my own life in times of deepest despair. When Joyce and I had a little baby boy step over into heaven, we grew a quantum leap. When I had a daughter to go through a deep heartache and distress, God stretched my heart. I never want these things to happen again, but they did happen. And I’m here to tell you, that I am a better person because of it.

The following poem entitled “Along The Road�?by Robert Browning Hamilton shares my sentiments:

I walked a mile with Pleasure, She chattered all the way, But left me none the wiser For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow And ne'er a word said she; But oh, the things I learned from her When Sorrow walked with me!

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