A few months have passed since I sent out a writing via email. I have entered the world of Facebook, not as a social tool, but as a tool to encourage others to serve the Lord with all their heart. Man may have invented Facebook, but God enables us to determine how we will use it. I use it to share Jesus. My life is an open book.
Over the past six months I have not turned on a television nor gone to any news network. I really do not know what is happening within our world unless someone shares with me. I have spend the time I would previously spent watching television in quite reflection of what really matters in life – we have been placed upon this earth to serve a risen Savior, if we choose to do so.
God will not force Himself on anyone. He is a gentleman and although He holds all the keys to life, he will not enter unless the door is opened from the inside and He is invited in. I know Him and He knows me. It has been during the past season of reflection I write the following and I pray you will be challenged to reflect deeply upon the awesome design of God’s handiwork in creation and how we may learn from it.
To those who may read this and are struggling to understand God, I invite you to visitthegatheringplace.com where I have placed some of the thoughts that drive me in my to attempt to live daily for Christ.
I pray what I share will encourage you and bless you. Have a very blessed day!
Renewal: Evening and Morning – Life’s Pattern
A remarkable event occurs each day in Ecuador and the pattern is reflected in time. Because of its location at the equator, Ecuador experiences little variation in daylight hours during the course of a year. Both sunrise and sunset occur each day at the two six o’clock hours.
We need both evening and morning. Evening brings us to a time to rest and reflect – to be renewed and strengthened for what ahead lies in the day we are entering.
It is interesting when we reflect about sunrise and sunset that sunrise is usually mentioned first in writing and common thought. Tomorrow is the mind’s view of a sunrise. Our natural mind has been programmed by conventional tradition to think the day begins with sunrise.
Not so fast, it is time to read the Bible and receive understanding. It is intriguing that the Book of Genesis specifically states that the evening and the morning were the first day. Light came forth out of darkness.
I challenge you to read the first chapter of Genesis with diligent care; here are the first five verses of the Bible:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:1-5
If we continue to read, we discover the evening and the morning were the second day, the third day and so forth – including the sixth day. When God created the earth, at first there was darkness, there was no light. God has revealed spiritual truth in the order of creation – light rises from darkness. The spiritual life of humanity is birthed out of darkness into His glorious light. This is the design of God. Out of darkness, light is revealed.
What does this have to do with Ecuador one might ask? Many equate darkness and light as being equal – it really doesn’t matter what one believes – God is a loving God and therefore everyone is going to end up in His presence. This is not the teaching of the Bible. There are many who walk in darkness, void of the knowledge of God and have no relationship with Him. They are spiritually blind, walking in darkness. Millions need the Light to shine upon them. This is true of all humanity in the world. We all need the Light of the Gospel to burn as a flame within our heart. We need more spiritual enlightenment.
Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
I believe Christians have the responsibility to pray for the light of the Gospel to shine bright in the daily life of each follower of Jesus and to specifically pray for those who continue to walk in spiritual darkness.
From God’s perspective, we close each day as the sun begins to descend on the Western horizon. Man’s life is the same. We were born naturally out the darkness of our mother’s womb, we began our life as a youth, reach the climax of our life and then begin the decline toward the setting of the light of our life.
The reality of life is that our lifespan is limited and fragile, there will be dreary days filled with trouble and there will seem to be little light upon the path we may tread. The good news is that the Light of the world lives in the heart of every believer in Jesus Christ and His presence is the light of gladness and joy regardless of our situation in life.
Knowing our days are few and will quickly fade should awaken our soul and spirit to seek for the grace of God to guide and enable us to use our time wisely to faithfully participate with Him by living each day to please Him. Knowledge that we will face the crossing from this life to eternity should compel us to spend more time in prayer for our own soul and the souls of all humanity.
Every evening should be the dawning of a new day spiritually. Resting in His presence during the night hours in the spirit of prayer will renew our body, soul and spirit to greet Him as we rise up to begin the willing toil of the daylight hours.
Jesus spoke these words: “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4
Let us pray that we might be engaged daily in obedience to the Father so others may see our good works and glorify Him.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
English 