“Beacons of Hope"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Beacons of Hope"

     How people live in our generation without the Lord Jesus Christ boggles the hearts and minds of all born again believers.  Of course, that has always been true.    Long ago Job declared, "They grope in the darkness without light" (Job 12:25).  However, the difference in our day involves how aware we are of happenings in the world.  The news that once traveled slowly, if at all, now finds us almost instantaneously.  Thus, we know countless events that take place throughout the world, most of them troubling because the electronic media that moves information largely focuses on the negative.  Again, how do people live in such times without the Lord Jesus?

   The first answer is that they do not.

    "I am the way, the truth, and the life…  To live Christ… You hath He quickened (enlivened), who were dead in trespasses and sins" (John 14:6; Philippians 1:21; Ephesians 2:1).

   While unbelievers are alive in mental, physical, emotional, and volitional terms, they do not possess life as defined by God.  "This is the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (I John 5:11).  "Christ is our life" affirms the Apostle Paul (Colossians 3:4)  Thus, no human being truly lives apart from the involved and indwelling presence of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus.  This at least partially answers how people manage in a generation that constantly publishes its darkness and portends of its dangers.  Unbelievers know nothing else but an existence at a level of spiritual subsistence.  In simple terms, they cope rather than spiritually live in the life of Christ and His peace.  

   For many, this involves the hedonism of "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (I Corinthians 15:32).  Others seek an ethical and moral path to deal with the pervading sense of condemnation in their hearts, whether through philosophy or false religion.  Still others seek success as a distracting balm, and many simply choose to ignore as best they can the realities of a dark and dangerous world.  Of course, too many people medicate their consciousness with the countless chemicals that provide escape from one darkness into an even more lethal void.  Whatever dark path the unbeliever chooses, death rather than life characterizes existence apart from the Christ who alone provides "the light of life" (John 8:12).

    Believers do well to let the question of "how do they cope?" lead us to a greater inquiry: "how do we serve as beacons of hope?"  Our Heavenly Father calls us to "shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).  By His leadership and enabling, believers possess the capacity to truly live, and to do so in manner that reveals the life of Christ to others.  Our countenance, demeanor, attitude, words, and deeds can serve as illuminating influences that beckon the dead to seek life in the Prince of life.  This day offers such opportunity as we devote ourselves to God and others.  Again, for those who merely cope, we can be the signal lights that lead them to the Life that has provided hope in every generation, and in times such as these.

"For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us."

(I John 1:2)

Weekly Memory Verse

   "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." 

(Ephesians 1:3)