Begin with NO!

Rising up…

We are at the dawn of a new year and the world speeds up. I am amazed of the things I hear and see in, the direction the world is going to, because there are so many people who refuse to believe the obvious. However, there are so many things set to entice us and defeat our minds and attention. We might want to ask, therefore, how cautious am I with what I have and do I use it? Reflecting on the Word of God, it saddens me to think of how many opportunities have been wasted, to stop and listen to God’s instruction. For me, it is such a comfort, and it calms my spirit, mind and heart when the Bible is wide open. Nevertheless, I struggle to find the balance and discipline to use more of my free time for God. There is a verse which comes to my mind now. “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.” [Proverbs 20:5 – KJV] You see, this is a two-part statement which really intrigues me. Because what I see here to be the challenge is not having access to counsel, but how to draw it out. However, I am inclined to believe that there are less and less people who are interested in any counsel, so the water is really shallow. That is why it came to my heart to encourage you, dear reader, to start to say NO!

I know that most of us are looking into 2025 with fresh eyes and hopes for a better outcome. Yet, we do not know if it will be so and we are walking in the unknown, most of the time with no guide and having no fence to hold on to. In Psalms 119:105 we read “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Though there is a light available to grab onto, people refuse to have it in their hands, in front of their eyes. I find it very intriguing to walk into the unknown with no guidance or instruction to define the path to walk on. I would say such people are blind, not because they lost the ability to see. But rather, they are blind because all they can see is darkness. I would urge, therefore, even if you have already made the plans for the next year, to begin by saying NO! Draw up your plans and include in for the future, to have the integrity to say NO! Be a negativistic and a sceptic thinker! It is rather critical to do so!

I was reflecting on this and I noticed that there are a lot of sceptical thinkers who will question even the posed questions. I am surrounded by negativism and scepticism and so much self-reliance. It seems that society is moved forward by a force from behind. With nothing on the horizon, and it asks to trust it, with no perspective or any direction given. Walk into blindness without seeing! 

Start-off by saying NO!, would be my strong advice! Not because I know more, but because there is very little left to say yes to. Not much hope left in what surrounds us, and there is even less likely that the sun will come up again. What is more, even the Bible commands the same thing, to be a negativist and sceptical thinker to darkness and falsehood presented as light and hope.  

The Word of God is light, so if I abide by it, I will say NO and I will be a negativist to all the darkness around me. That is the challenge I find that many Christians face and are powerless to stand their ground to say NO! But, how can we say NO to darkness, when we cannot discern it from light? The issue I see here is not the counsel, but the ability to draw out the understanding. When I read in Psalm 119 that God’s word is a lamp, it comes to my mind that to walk in darkness, I have to hold the light in front of me to light the path I’m walking on. Yet, so many people think that because they have a lamp it shows the way where to go. This is where Proverbs 20:5 comes into application and we ought to understand how to draw out instruction. Or in our case, to know how and where and why to hold the light, so that it illuminates the path. Also, notice that the word is a lamp to the feet. Which is vastly important, as I was asking myself isn’t though, the word, assimilated by the mind and heart and soul? How can it then reach my feet? By abiding by God’s word and letting it change our being, the walking will be transformed. I am not walking because I know the path, but I walk because I trust the Word. It is deceitful to think we know the path we are walking because we do not. The future is unknown and God only, who sits outside of time, knows what is in front of us. And we can know the future, but within the limits, it has been revealed within His Word, the Bible. We can recognise where society is heading, but we cannot define the crossing line. Most people want to know when and where is the crossing line. However, that is in God’s hands.

Darkness is Condemnation

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. [John 3:16-21 – KJV]

The Gospel of John contains Truth principles which are yet to be uncovered and understood. And it stands out by the claims and statements found in it, such as the above. Moreover, it is the gospel account, in which light and darkness are described with an emphasis on human behaviour. When light entered the world, humans loved darkness rather than light. Because their deeds were evil, therefore loving the darkness is hating the light. Meaning, that such a person will not come to light, because their deeds will be uncovered and reproved.

We ought to get empowered to say NO! But that power is only provided by the Word, who spoke first, light into the world. (Genesis 1: 3) Through faith we were brought into the light and removed from the darkness with a purpose. To shine bright and push against darkness.  

Perhaps you are looking into the future, as I am. I do not know what 2025 might bring and I am looking upon the days to come, and I can barely see beyond tomorrow. There is an abyss in front of us. And it will scare and terrify us if we would only use our eyes to pierce it. However, God’s Word can travel far beyond the horizon, and it already did. I find it magnificent! It comforts me and keeps my heart and whole being within peace, to step into the future, fully entrusted. Because, I am not trusting in my capabilities to understand what is to come, but I rest on the wisdom found in the Bible. Therefore, I urge you, my dear reader, to rest yourself and be at peace and refuse to say yes to darkness. Be disturbed by shadows and confusion and uncertainty. Though a shadow, still darkness. There are very few useful plants growing in darkness. Though not certain, yet not assuring. Walking in light we have clarity, full assurance peace and comfort. The Gospel, by God’s grace through faith, has placed us in the Light of the Word.  

Just say… 

Christians need to get serious about the Bible and dive deep into it. To draw out the directions to walk in this world as pure brilliant light. Not as flickering, nearly fading away, candle. The times are ye to come, will be challenging to navigate through. May we all be encouraged and bold to say NO!. To refuse to bow our knees, but to let our praise and worship exclusively to God, Who spoke light into the World at the creation, Who spoke light into the world through Jesus Christ and Who spoke light into my heart by the power of the Gospel.