SHARE Magazine July 2016 | Page 25

“For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people…” impact on my faith. I remember, many years ago, on two different occasions, seeing people who were believers in Christ and observing what seems like a light all around them. It was not the light that comes from a physical source but it was light indeed. I remember being aware that I did not have this beautiful, heavenly glow but that I wanted it with all my being. They were walking in heavenly light and where this heavenly light is absent there is darkness; a darkness which is much worse than physical darkness. THE SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION The kind of darkness Isaiah spoke about is spiritual darkness. Darkness has no source, but is only the absence of light. Just as all physical light emanates from a source such as the sun or a fire spiritual light also has a source. His name is Jesus and darkness will converge on any space where He is absent. Perhaps with this understanding, we could rephrase what Isaiah said like this, “Behold, Christ will be increasingly absent from the earth, and totally absent from the hearts of people.” John gives us the reason for this, “...this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19 We reject the light because we want to keep our evil deeds hidden. SPIRITUAL DEATH Darkness also signifies death. Think of what happens to plants when taken out of the light and placed in total darkness. They die! However, where there is light there is life. Jesus speaking of Himself said, “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 This picture painted by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 60:2 is of this present age. We can envision an earth covered with [spiritual] death, because most people today are [spiritually] dead. Why? Because Christ, who is life and light, has been forced out of many nations education systems, judicial systems, political systems, social life, family life and even their Church life. CONCLUSION In an age when there has never been more physical light, we have been plunged into the deepest of spiritual darkness. With Christ out of the equation, the result can only be DEATH and DARKNESS. Today hold firmly to Jesus, because His words are true, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46 p Further Reading John 1:1-3 e-G=X Continued from page 15 Secular ideals have subtly removed the Judeo-Christian philosophy from public schools, and teachers can no longer uphold moral standards, or provide moral guidance to children. However, the current onslaught against Christian ethics still continues. Isaac Moffett founded Nampa Classical Academy, a charter school in Nampa, Idaho, one of the most conservative states, that upheld Bible instruction, and regarded the Bible not merely as a religious document, but also as a source of historical knowledge. As Moffett walked across a dirt field, he lamented, “This used to be our campus. This is where the classrooms were. Everything was right here.” On September 15, 2011 the school was shut down by Idaho’s Board of Education, who accused it of quoting “religious texts” inside its classrooms. Moffett however declared that the texts were only used to teach history and at the time of the report was suing the Board in federal court. Efforts to remove the words “In God We Trust” from not only paper money but from every U.S. coin has ensured the further slide away from God in this nation. Even the term “Under God” has come under attack. (Int) The attempt to remove any reference to God will continue as this nation turns away from the Living God and serves the idols of materialism, pleasure and political correctness. p By C Richard McCaw author, music teacher and many years as a Bible teacher By Homer Slack author, preacher, Bible teacher, IT tutor, programmer & graphic designer July - September 2016 SHARE|MAGAZINE | 25