Carrying the Light In War And Peace
Psalm 96:2-3
In the earlier months
of the War for Southern independence it is written in history that the
Confederate armys general moral picture was poor during the autumn of 1861, and
the winter of 1861-1862 was dark indeed. Sinful practices, as often occur in
military camps, increased to an alarming degree. After this period the horrors
of war, along with its prospect of imminent injury or death, cast a shadow upon
the frivolity of careless living. God, in His providential mercy, stirred the
hearts of Christians, both in and out of the military, to fervent prayer and
concern for souls. For many this mint walking once again in the illumination of
the Holy Spirit and for others this was salvation for the first time. I have
heard this time described as a period of great spiritual revival.
In the New Testament,
the word light is identified with goodness and holiness. Darkness, on the other
hand, is frequently associated with unrighteousness or evil.
Jesus described Himself
as “the Light of the world” (John 9:5). He invited the people to put their
trust in Him so that they might become sons of light (John 12:36). The apostle
John called Jesus “the true Light,” who gives illumination to all (John 1:9).
Our enemy Satan, who masquerades as an angel of light, has blinded the eyes of
many so they do not recognize the truth of the gospel message. As a result,
they fail to believe (2 Cor. 4:4).
The word light has
significance for believers too. At salvation, we were transferred from the
domain of darkness into the kingdom of light (Col. 1:12-13 niv). Freed from
slavery to sin, we were adopted by our heavenly Father and given a future home
in heaven as well as a new family now—our brothers and sisters in Christ. We
are no longer in darkness; instead, we walk in the illumination of the Holy
Spirit.
Now we are “children of
light” (Eph. 5:8), and our calling is to carry the truth about salvation and
eternal life to an unbelieving world. Jesus has commissioned us to share the
gospel message and to live it out in our daily life.
The apostle Paul
understood what it meant to carry the light of the gospel to others. He
dedicated himself to sharing the good news with those who did not believe and
to nurturing the faith of other Christians. Like Paul, we are called to be
light bearers to those around us.
Let’s not forget the
following who are on our prayer list.
Yours In Christ
Tom Snowden, Chaplain
Confess your trespasses to one
another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16
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