BBD 11.27.07 Out of the Darkness
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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11.27.07
Out of the Darkness
"For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud,
yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall
burn them up," says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root
nor branch. But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise
with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed
calves." - MalachI 4:1-2.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28.
Out of the darkness can come what? Good. If, if we love God, and are the
called according to His purpose. Out of the darkness of the flood came the
Rainbow. In the darkness, Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely accused and
thrown into prison. But out of the darkness came God's provision to save his
family and the lives of countless others. Out of the darkness of fear
imposed isolation in the backside of the desert came an eighty-year-old
Moses raised up to lead a nation out of bondage. Out of the darkness of a
whale's belly came repentance for Jonah and salvation for hundreds of
thousands of Ninevites. Out of the darkness of religious intolerance and
persecution came the apostle Paul to spread the light of the Gospel to the
Gentiles.
Out of the darkness of John Newton's life as a slave trader came a preacher,
a hymn writer, and a relentless crusade to end the slave trade. Out of the
darkness we hear, "Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch
like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."
Out of the physical darkness of Fanny J. Crosby's life came such great hymns
as, "Jesus keep me near the cross." "Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love
and mercy found me; there the Bright and Morning Star shed His beams around
me."
Are you living in darkness? Is the burden of life overwhelming? In recent
days, I have had contact with some who have had thoughts about ending their
lives. Life can be very difficult. Life can be crushing. Life can be
devastating. What if Joseph falsely accused and in prison had turned away
from God? I am sure that God could have used someone else to save His
people. However, I am also sure that Joseph would have missed out on that
deliverance. Moses could have turned away from God's call at the burning
bush and remained in obscurity but what a glorious adventure he and his
family would have missed out on. Jonah could have refused to repent and died
in the belly of the great fish. He could have but he did not. Instead, Jonah
did what was incredibly difficult for him and he turned back to walk in
obedience to God becoming the greatest evangelist of ancient history. These
people of faith walked forward with God during incredible difficulty and
found the greatest chapters of their lives being written and lived out.
Out of the darkness of the crucifixion of our Lord came "He is not here: for
he has risen (Matthew 28:6)." Out of the darkness of death came the
resurrection. Out of death came life! Out of the darkness comes what? Out of
the darkness comes life. Out of the darkness comes the dawn for those who
love God and are the called according to His purpose. For the "Sun of
Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings" for those who fear the
Lord.
Copyright © 2007. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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