But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. —1 Peter 2:9

The message echoing down through the ages of time from the throne of God is still applicable and resonates in this generation. It is the divine call of God to leave the darkness of this sinful world and to walk in the marvelous light of truth and righteousness. People’s lives are consumed with the lusts of the flesh: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, uncleanness, idolatry, hatred, competition, strife, envy, murder, drunkenness, partying, and the list goes on. Spiritual darkness is spreading across the land as God is rejected and people follow their own lustful designs. Let it be firmly established in every heart and mind that “They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

People are trying to subdue the inner voice of the convicting Spirit of God to escape guilt and condemnation, as they pursue that which is immoral and wrong through the temporary pleasures of the flesh. While many are rejecting even the existence of God and denying an absolute morality, religions of man are trying to repackage and redefine the gospel to allow room for sin and to accommodate the evil that exists in the hearts of mankind. Truly, men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19).

Addictions and vices of the flesh are rampant in society, and the moral fabric is being torn asunder as the darkness deepens. While some people stand against the immorality of the times, they themselves are too often driven by the lust of ambition, pride, or wealth. Spiritual darkness in all forms separates people from God, and the wages of sin is death.

Darkness is the absence of light. Spiritually, it is the force of all that is contrary to God which permeates to the inner being of man; it affects him physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The works of the flesh and the darkness of sin, propagated by politicians and glamorized though the media and by the entertainment and sports worlds, are wreaking havoc in personal lives and families. The sinful lifestyles and ideologies of the world are not bringing greater happiness, peace, or satisfaction to people; rather, they bring despair, loneliness, hopelessness, and ultimately death, as the soul of man cries out for something to satiate the longing within.

Thank God, there is deliverance from sin and darkness through the power of Jesus Christ. “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). The call is to come out of darkness into His wonderful light. It is light that dispels darkness, and the light of Jesus Christ will drive the power of sin from the soul. All people have walked in darkness and were under the power of the flesh, but those that heed the call of God find the beauty of light and peace. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”
(John 8:12).

Jesus came that “whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46). It is a lie of Satan to cause people to think they can choose some darkness and some light. The children of God are called out of darkness and are to walk as children of light, proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Not only are they to disfellowship the unfruitful works of darkness, but they are also to reprove them
(Ephesians 5:8-11).

When one accepts Christ with the whole heart and repents of sin, the light of Christ will transform the life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 is still true: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” There will be no more lying, cheating, fornicating, adultery, hatred or any such thing. The light of Christ will bring the grace and fruit of the Spirit in love, peace, goodness, etc.
(Galatians 5:22-25); and the individual will no more walk after the flesh but after the spirit. As pilgrims and strangers, children of God will “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11) and will be separate from the world and part of the holy nation.

The light of God brings healing, restoration, and peace, but there must be a clean and clear break from the darkness. “This then is the message which we have heard of him…that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 John 1:5-6). We cannot please God and be carnally minded, walking after the flesh (Romans 8:5-8).

If you are living in darkness, open your heart to the light of God and enjoy the true blessings of life. ■