The Daily Word of Righteousness

When a Christian Dies, #32

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 4:6)

The light we must have, if we would conduct ourselves properly as children of God in a world that God has made, is the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God. If Christ is being formed in us the true Light is in us.

It is an amazing fact that people live in a world of relationships, things, and situations that have been created by God, and yet they reject God from their midst and attempt to understand how the world should operate. We can read every day in the newspaper how successful their efforts are.

It is the Life of Jesus that is the Light of men. When Jesus enters us He brings the understanding of God. He brings the knowledge of God. That knowledge, which one day will fill the earth through the saints, makes clear to us how relationships, situations, and things should work together in order to bring love, peace, and joy. Only God knows how to do that. Apart from God we are groping in the dark.

As Christ dwells in us, we begin to work the works of righteousness. We exhibit moral purity, honesty, truthfulness, kindness, gentleness, faith, peace, joy, and all the other attitudes and traits that belong to God. When men see this light, in us they glorify God. Men do not glorify God when we teach our religious beliefs (although there is a place for teaching), but when we reveal a godly character, when we worship God with our whole being. This is the light of the world.

At the time of Christ's appearing from Heaven a light will enter the true Israel of God:

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1)

The Divine Light will rise in the hour of the greatest spiritual darkness the world ever has known. For the darkness that clouds the minds of people is spiritual darkness—the same darkness with which the Lord God has bound the rebellious angels. The fallen angels no longer can behold the light and glory of Heaven. They are cursed forever with ignorance and futility. They know only hate, misery, unrest, impatience, harshness, unbelief, treachery, selfishness, strife, discord, and raging, burning lust. They love lying, rebellion, and murder. They, and the people who choose to follow their path, will reap death forever because they are unable to cease from sowing death.

It is this angelic punishment that is the darkness that fills the minds of people who still are bound by sin and self-centeredness.

In the Day of the Lord, the Life of Christ, which is the true Light of the world, will fill the Body of Christ. Then the nations of the earth will come to that light and be healed of their unbelief and fear.

And the Gentiles [nations] shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. (Isaiah 60:3,4)

To be continued.