AS A LIGHT IN THE SATANIC DARKNESS

For those of us who stand in the Light (John 3:19-20), we are amazed by the reigning insanity we see around us - transgenderism, bathroom bills, open borders, and the blatant lying that is now characterizing our once respected institutions.

Many have attempted to understand these divisive and self-destructive developments in a way that makes some human sense, by ascribing these phenomena to the quest for power, self-righteousness, and guiltless sex. However, I think there is an underlying force that can best account for these many sub-motives.

I don’t think that we are giving Satan the credit that he deserves. After all, he has taken this world captive (2 Timothy 2:26), blinding the minds of his willing prey:

• In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Jesus had even charged the religious leadership as having Satan as their head:

• “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44; Matthew 13:38)

John explicitly taught that a practice of unrepented sin reflected demonic domination:

• Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

It is Jesus who frees us from the kingdom of darkness (2 Corinthians 3:15 - 4:6). He opens blind eyes (John 8:31-21). While we are called upon to patiently and humbly speak the truth in love, it is our Lord who must open the heart and grant repentance, while we are:

• correcting [our] opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:25-26)

This means that, ultimately, the battle is the Lord’s. He is the One who must grant a new heart. Therefore, we need to have the mind of the midwife, who understands that if there is no new life growing in the womb, there is nothing to bring forth. No need to get frustrated about our failed efforts!

Instead, re-focus upon our Lord and His glorious Gospel:

• For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

We simply sow the Gospel seed, but it is the Savior who prepares the soil and gives growth to the seed. I am convinced that this is the best strategy to combat the growing darkness and insanity, as we live our lives for His glory.