The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Darkness and Light"
As presently constituted, we would not do well if we could see or hear the Lord Jesus Christ.
"We walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7).
Surely it seems we would more faithfully walk with God if we had sensory contact with Him. We will experience such grace one day, when "we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3:2). In this life, however, sight, sound, and touch would no more benefit our faithfulness than it did the disciples who knew the Lord's direct presence for three years. "They all forsook Him and fled" at the end of His earthly journey declares Mark of those who had every outward advantage for godliness, but failed their Lord nonetheless (Mark 14:50).
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus presently have the indwelling Holy Spirit, which the disciples did not possess (John 14:17). The truth remains, however, that we would not presently benefit from sensory experience of Christ. We know this by a simple confirmation: "As for God, His way is perfect" (II Samuel 22:31). If we cannot see, hear, or touch the Lord, His perfect way means this must be this best for us at this time. Thankfully, this will not always be the case - "but then face to face" (I Corinthians 13:12). For now, however, our Heavenly Father's perfect providence deems it best that we "see through a glass darkly." Ways presently exist whereby we can glorify the Lord Jesus, know Him in the context of life as we now experience, and discover the wonder of God in a light that "shineth in darkness" (John 1:5). Such potential will not be available in the next life, glorious as it will be, and we do well to seize opportunities only at hand in a fallen world.
We shall not pass this way again. Praise God! We cannot imagine the relief we will know when delivered from "the present distress" (I Corinthians 7:26). Most of all, we cannot imagine what it will be like to see our Lord "face to face" (I Corinthians 13:12). "What a day that will be" declares the hymnwriter so beautifully. It remains true, however, that our present heart to heart experience of God offers possibilities to be appreciated, even amid the great challenges that accompany our walk by faith. This way, to which we will one day bid farewell, shines with the glory of Christ in both light and darkness. That will not be the case in that realm where "there shall be no night" (Revelation 21:25). We therefore do well to avail ourselves of present opportunities to know and glorify God in ways only possible in the here and now, ways wherein we trust His heart when we cannot see His hand. We honor Him thereby, and surely we must bless our Lord as we love Him in a manner only possible as we walk by faith, not by sight.
"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."
(Psalm 112:4)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness, He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."
(Psalm 112:4)
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