There are times in our lives that we all face moments of fear from literal darkness, because we know that bad things do happen in the darkness. Yet, we also have times of spiritual darkness that just seem to creep in as clouds of despair, pain, personal issues and disrupt our peace and cause us to fear something that while we may not can see it, we know that something is wrong. Faith will always overcome fear when we apply it to the situation that we may find ourselves to be in. The scriptures tell us in Ps 139:12, that darkness, is as the day to God….it can’t hide from God and neither can anything that is in that darkness. David knew firsthand what it was like to fear the unknown and those things that were lurking in the hills and desserts of Judea. He like us, was forced to put his faith to the test, many times to either be consumed with fear over his spiritual midnights (or things that he could not control) or choose to have peace and trust God for whatever would be….would be, but he himself was going to follow the God He knew, loved and trusted!
I recall years ago, of a weekly television show that you may remember as well… called, “Blue Thunder”. It was a about a helicopter that could fly over buildings and homes seeing in the dark by detecting invisible, infrared radiation in human bodies and objects. This technology is very real today and enables man to see in the dark what they could not see before. In spiritual darkness, it is God’s light that probes that darkness and dispels it as He shows us the way out. But we must engage that light by turning on our faith to make it happen. John R. Mott was a godly layman who led a world movement for today’s Modern missions. In his early life, he had his doubts about prayer, he read over forty books concerning it and had many discussions about it. Yet it was only when he set aside all that; and began to pray… that he truly began to understand… that God’s power is released through prayer. He learned that, “the prayers of a righteous man is powerful and effective…it avails much!” It was his practical faith that was the dividing line between his religion and actually experiencing God. It separates those that are simply “fans” of Christ from those that are true ”followers” of Christ.
On Sunday nights, we are going through an excellent video series at Church that helps us to distinguish between being a true Follower of Christ or simply a Fan of Christ. These videos are exceptional in bringing to light the fact that many people are simply fans of Christ but not true followers. The videos cut to the core and help you to define your relationship to Christ as being either an enthusiastic admirer, close enough to Him to get the benefits, but not so close that it requires you to sacrifice anything….or that through your willingness to do what He ask by picking up your cross and following Him, that you truly are a follower and not a just a fan; of the One who died for you. We will all be confronted with this question at different times in our loves. Those times may come during our spiritual midnights like they did in one of the characters in the video series; and when they do, it is then that our level of commitment will be revealed to us as to where our heart and devotion to Christ really lies.
We have no rights of our own apart from bearing a cross daily that keeps us humble and committed to a call on our lives. Do not be deceived in thinking that you do not have a call on your life if you are a true follower of Christ. Do not think that being a believer entitles you to anything other than knowing about Christ….because the scriptures give us many examples or checkpoints to test ourselves and see if we are in the faith or in the beloved. Not all that say, Lord, Lord, will enter heaven, but only those who do the Father’s will…according to Matthew 7:21. So may I encourage you today sweet friend, even challenge you, to pick up that old dusty Bible that you have in your home and begin to look at those checkpoints that are there, and you will find them if you are sincere in your looking for them….and discover for yourself, if you are truly a follower of Christ or simply one of His fans.
If you are going through a spiritual midnight today, allow the One who can shed His light and brighten your world and make your path clear to you…but it will be up to you to walk in it!
Loving you today,
Bren
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