Tuesday, October 30, 2012

OUT OF DARKNESS ... TURN ON THE LIGHTS

The Bible is a wonderful guide book, full of wisdom and practical principles for living. It can be used as a do-it-yourself handbook for a successful life.

The Bible tells us that the God who created all things is completely good. If you honour Him and do good, you will be a blessing to others and you will be blessed yourself.

  • Mt 7  “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

  • Mt 12  “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them ....

The Bible gives us commandments, laws for living. If we keep God’s laws, we will have a better life. The Ten Commandments give us the minimum standard for a good life but God is not just a judge who sets minimum standards but the God of all goodness who wants us to be like Himself.

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)   So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Think about it. You were made to be like God: wise and good, loving and kind, creative and inventive, intelligent and resourceful, full of supernatural power, able to speak words of command, so that the lions and tigers and winds and waves obey your voice.

But isn’t this rather extreme? This is not usually taught in churches.
But what does the Bible say?


Adam and Eve disobeyed God and lost their glory. Human life became a struggle for survival, a time of waiting before we die, a hard road to build to travel while we endeavour to do something worthwhile and pass on something of value to our children. 


If we follow the Bible as our guide book and pray to God for help, we can experience some good on this earth but God planned so much more for us.

We can catch small glimpses of this in the Old Testament prophets.

Isaiah 65:23-25 (ESV)

23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them.

24  Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.

25  The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.        

Many Bible scholars consider this is so way out, that they try to interpret as a vague symbolic picture of people living in peace with each other. But in the beginning it was not so. 

Ge 25  God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

There was no death or killing in the animal kingdom until Adam and Eve turned away from God and so brought DEATH into the world.

But God had a plan.

1 Corinthians 15:21-23 (ESV)

21  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

22  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

23  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

In the beginning, God created all things. God created life, not death. How did God create? He SPOKE words of power and love.

Genesis 1:3 (ESV)   And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God wants to bring your life out of darkness and disappointment. 

  • He wants to turn on the lights for you.

John 8:12 (ESV)    Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

  • How do you follow Jesus? First you must meet Him.

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)   Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Jesus is calling you now through these words. Talk to Him. He is listening and He will answer.


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