Since childhood, we resent darkness. Darkness is scary and straight up creepy. And we are not sure about people who like the dark because most people like the light, right?
But I can’t help but wonder if there is a psychological reason why we resent the dark?
The 9 months that we are in the womb we are surely in the dark, right? For 9 straight months in our mother’s womb, we are cared for and secure in the dark. Come the 7th month or the 8th and we start kicking our mothers’ tummies. In the darkness of the womb we have been provided for, but when it’s almost time to be born it’s like there is an itch that’s kind of telling us that there is something better out there.

From your mother’s womb

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

Even when we were still in the dark He called us. I am surely amazed by the wonder of His grace.

Now that I think about it I am so thankful that I serve a God who is not afraid of the dark. A God who will go to great lengths to save us from ourselves. Because Christianity isn’t so much about being saved of our fallen behavior but being saved from ourselves. Because being saved from ourselves will take care of our innate fallen behavior.

Christianity isn’t so much about being saved from the dark, but about being sent in the dark. Because He saves us from our darkness and then once we are in CHRIST, we are sent into the dark. It’s a cycle. I get saved from my darkness, and I have to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that He commanded us…” Matthew 28:19-20

Because once you have His light, there is no darkness you will be afraid to walk into so He can shine through it all.

Months ago the Spirit whispered in my soul “Sometimes being in the dark means you are walking with Jesus”. Throughout His whole ministry, Jesus was always with the lost ones– the leper, the adulterous, the tax collectors, or anyone who was lost.

Jesus so loved the world that He stepped into our darkness.

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10
Isn’t the lost ones in the dark spiritually?

Let’s go in the dark and witness of His love!

Rejoice for you are afflicted

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalms 34: 19

If you are living an “affliction free” Christianity, please re-examine yourself.

“Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:43
Jesus was persecuted because He only did His Father’s will. They never loved Him, only His disciples loved Him; and one of those who loved Him sold Him for money and in the eleven true disciples left, one denied Him.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but 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.” John 15:18-20

Jesus is saying, “Look, if you are loved by the world, then you are of this world. but since you are Mine– out of the world, you should be hated/persecuted”.

What they did to Me, they will do to you, if you are really Mine. ~Jesus

I am not saying we will be hanged like Jesus, though this is the case for Chinese Christian right now, as they are being killed because of their faith in Christ. What I am saying is this: Embrace affliction because it’s sharing in Jesus’ suffering.

Affliction is an invitation to His embrace. It is a way to go deeper with Him.

Persecution shouldn’t be a foreign subject to the Christian.

Suffering for God’s Glory

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

I am tired of the “accept Christ and your life will better” Christianity. I want to know the Jesus who “was despised and rejected by men, the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” Isaiah 53:3

I want the Jesus who rebukes and afflicts those He loves so that all is left is Him and Him alone!

I simply want to share in His suffering.

If you really serious about sharing in His suffering, pray this with me?

Dear God, give us the grace to walk with You. Lord, please teach us to walk with You in the dark. And may Your spirit always guide us in Your work. Father God, put us in the fire that purifies until only You are left in our lives. God, You willingly came in our darkness, and You sent us in the dark to proclaim Your name. May I never tire to say how Great of a God You are Father God. 1 Peter 4:7 tells us that “the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers”. God, we want to be serious with You like never before! God, please continue to guide us in Your love and embrace.
You are better than life, our lives and all we are we commit in Your hands now and forever! Amen