Shadow World
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. John 3:19 NASB
Darkness – So you claim to walk in the light? You know the witness of the Spirit, the testimony of the Word, the truth of the doctrines. You are in the light! Then why are you afraid? Why are you afraid to look any further into the questions? Why are you afraid to take that staircase down into the past record? Why are you afraid to peer into the depths of your own soul to uncover what still resists? If you are so comfortable in the light, why does it burn?
Yesterday I wept at just being. The terrible tragedy of being human in a world gone astray. I wept for all those who still use incense, bow before stone or bronze, worship a book or a creed, substitute routine for presence. Today I wept for me. When I look deep enough, I see a man at the end of the beginning. I see a man who could just as easily be lost, just as easily be consumed, just as easily be numbed into religious stupor. I see a man who is afraid to be afraid. If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, then what is the fear of myself? Adam included me when God asked where he was. The question is whether I am brave enough to say, “I am naked and ashamed.”
The problem with light is that it allows no darkness. When you open the window to heaven, you must be prepared to be blinded. It is no good trying to hold on to just that last little bit of shadow where you can hide. The light will not allow it. Men love darkness not because they wish to be evil but because they wish to be safe in themselves. And safety is primarily a function of denial. The wilderness of YHVH is not a safe place. It is a place of absolute dependence; a place of death without His provision. Men are at home in the city of their own construction, fortified against the unknown, against the light. Men are afraid in the wilderness because only God can live there. We are but strangers in a land made for what is wild.
Light sears. Light burns. Light destroys darkness.
How then can you and I live in the light? Well, the truth is that we can’t. We who have constructed our own identities from the shadows will die when we are exposed to the light—and that’s the only way we can survive in it. We must die so that what can live in the light can be born. What lives in the light? Whatever is found in the character of YHVH. That thrives in the light. The secret to living in the light is no secret at all. It is mishpat, hesed and hatsnea leket (Micah 6:8). Do justice, love hesed, walk humbly and guess what? You will live comfortably in the light. Stop worrying about what God wants from you. Stop trying to figure out what comes next. Do what God demands, just those three things that make up what is good. Mishpat, hesed and hatsnea leket. The rest will follow. Light chases these three and it chases away whatever is not of these three.
Topical Index: mishpat, hesed, hatsnea leket, skotos, darkness, John 3:19, Micah 6:8
When I came to realize the fog of my Christian paradigm and how it had kept me from looking God’s way, I broke down and declared to my wife while sobbing; “We have it all wrong”. She took that to mean I was telling her that her faith was wrong. What was wrong was how I presented what I had come to. We struggle with how I see God’s word and how she see’s Gods word.
It never was about how we see God’s word/desire for us, It was that my whole life God has been in my face. My whole life the One who loves me more than I could ever know has been trying to get my attention, my acknowledgement, just a glance at Him.
Think of that child of yours who constantly ran in front of you, turning and beckoning to be picked up while you walked together somewhere. That granddaughter who jumps in your car and unceasingly talks away as your blood pressure rises and you tell her to stop for just a moment. That wife or husband who hears rejection where you don’t. And one day, alone, grey hair, a memory flashes, regret and longing for a rewind, missed presence, overwhelms, you want to return, be young, be in accompany. You hope they understand today. They were there, arms outstretched and you weren’t.
I weep because all of that time, God was.
My child, my granddaughter, my wife, what I have done to those who love me with devotion I am so sorry.
My God, I have changed, I weep because you deserved, deserve and will get so much more from me.
Its all in how we love one another… relationships…because Christ is the life ..I hear your heart cry…and He is able to redeem what the locusts have eaten! Wonderful Saviour!
Appreciate what you wrote. I can relate so much with this, being caught up with problems beyond me, neglecting relationships with kids so precious to me, but YHWH in His chesed and rachamim has seen us through it all, and reconciled our relationships. HalleluYAH!
So, be assured, Richard, He will restore yours too! Shalom, shalom!
Beautiful, simply beautiful. Thank you Skip.
What a wonderful wonder is our God! That He loves us..loves us…loves us.
Having just been through Passover and release from the captivity of God’s enemy in the gods of Egypt (for us the one who has turned this earth into a battleground)..we are now traveling through the days of “counting the omer” – counting the days before – in the old – when God gave Moses His Words to live by – and in the new – when God poured out His Spirit to refresh, strengthen and give life to His Own…the same goal..just different means. These next days-49 in all-now on day 2- are days to prepare our hearts – anticipating His blessing that waits ahead. It is doing what you shared Skip. Get into the quiet with Him, go into your heart and pull out the old..pride, fear, anger, hopelessness-whatever He reminds you of …and give it to Him and then repeat to Him- out loud- the blessing His love is to you and praise Him for all He has for you in the days ahead. He made it clear in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know what plans I have in mind for you, says Adonai, plans for well being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future. When you call to Me and pray to Me, I will listen to you. When you seek Me, you will find Me, provided you seek for Me wholeheartedly; and I will let you find me. says Adonai. Then I will reverse your exile, I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have driven you, says Adonai, and bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.” Praise His Holy and Wonderful Name!
“Yesterday I wept at just being. The terrible tragedy of being human in a world gone astray……Today I wept for me.” Such transparency brings tears to my eyes.
Besides ” Mishpat, hesed and hatsnea leket”, we need to be so truthful/honest to walk in integrity before YHWH Who sees every speck of dirt and dust in our lives.
Light reveals!!
Shalom.
Thank you Skip. I needed this today