Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. -Luke 22:52, 53 (KJV)
Now that springtime is here I am sure to enjoy walking my dog more often. We particularly enjoy heading to one of the local parks on a warm day and spending time walking and enjoying the sunshine and nice weather. For me this is a positive way to at least for a while get away from all of the darkness in the world. When I refer to darkness I am talking about the spiritual darkness which so permeates the world around us. After rising early this morning for prayer and meditation on the Scriptures it took about a minute to be bombarded with bad news; there were reports of political unrest in foreign nations, problems with the economy here at home, the threat of terrorism, and various reports of burglary, assault, and murder. So bad was the news I actually walked away from the news reports and returned for more time in God’s Word – always the right decision.
The night Jesus was arrested He told those who had come for Him how for the moment darkness was reigning. Our Lord was handed over to wicked men who placed Him on trial, brought false witnesses to accuse Him, and then they subjected Him to cruel and vicious treatment. Our hope comes in knowing the cross and the tomb were not the end and neither did they have victory over the Lord Jesus. On the third day, according to the Scriptures, Christ arose. Our hope is not in ourselves, our accomplishments, or our power. Instead our hope is in Jesus Christ – the resurrected Lord who overcame death, hell, and the grave on our behalf.
In the midst of all the darkness in the world we have the light of Jesus Christ to show the world around us the hope we possess in Him. People still question and wonder how we can claim such peace in a violent, bitter, and angry world, yet our answer remains steadfast; Jesus Christ, our rock, our fortress, and our strong and mighty tower, will hold us fast and keep us standing on solid ground.
What trials and difficulties are you facing right now? Are you feeling the burden of spiritual darkness? Remember Christ has overcome the darkness of evil by His power – resurrection power which is available to all who believe. Take heart, be comforted, and claim the power in Jesus' name. A brighter day is coming.
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