nowadays . What can we do about it . Secular powers will always do what they want anyway !” But we can make a difference if we seek our Father ’ s guidance where to go or what to do until Jesus returns . As the Church , our lives should be like salt flavoring the fast dying world with the influence of the Lord ’ s presence in our lives .
We need to let the Lord live His life of holiness through us . “ You are the light of the world . A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden ” ( Matt 5:14 ). As people see Christ in us , He will draw them to Himself .
Light is the opposite of darkness . Imagine the darkness of this world , people stumbling about in confusion , chaos , panic , stress , fear and every temptation , struggling to escape destruction and eventually death . Then imagine a beautiful light beginning to shine , a loving , guiding hand and whispers of help saying ,. “ Come follow Me and I will lead you out of darkness , destruction and death . I am the way , the truth , and the life . No one comes to the Father except through Me .” ( John 14:6 )
We must seriously ask ourselves , “ Are we actually living for God with all of our hearts , while we wait for the soon return of the Lord ? Are we following God ’ s agenda or ours , at the beginning of every day ? Do we need to repent of our complacency ?
We must ask God to unearth everything that prevents us from shining as lights for His glory . We have no excuses . If we cannot see the light shining in us , how can we shine out there in the world ? Many of us need to turn from our sins and seek God ’ s Kingdom . “ Your Kingdom come ; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven .” ( Matt 6:10 ) We must ask God to rule upon this earth , and to intervene in this world of darkness . “ Yours is the Kingdom , the power and the glory for ever . Amen .” God ’ s Kingdom will eventually rule . Let us therefore ask God to lead us to places where His light will shine and lead others to Him .
“ From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence , and the violent take it by force ” ( Matt 11:12 ). There is a war going on in the heavenlies . Without God we can never win . Whenever there is an advance of heaven upon earth , things change . People ’ s lives are restored . When we obey Jesus , change comes , sometimes in violence . But what did Jesus say ? “ If the world hates you , you know that it hated Me before it hated you . If you were of this world , the world would love its own . Yet because you are not of the world , but I chose you out of the world , therefore the world hates you . Remember the word that I said to you , ‘ A servant is not greater than his master .’ If they persecuted Me , they will also persecute you . If they kept My word they will keep yours also . But all these things they will do to you for My name ’ s sake , because they do not know Him who sent Me .” ( John 15:18-21 )
So , are we prepared ? “ Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil .” ( Ephesians 6:11-20 ). It will cost us much in order to become the salt of the earth , to speak of Jesus , to be strong in the power of God ’ s might , but it will be worth it to glorify Him .
Finally , let us fight the good fight without compromise . We have a heavenly host watching over us . Jesus said , ‘‘ I will not leave you orphans ; I will come to you .” Even so come Lord Jesus . Amen . p
by Lynda K Smith writer , proof reader , poet and Evangelist
July - September 2016 SHARE | MAGAZINE | 7