Living Above The Noise

John 12:46 (CEB)

I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in me won’t live in darkness.

Jesus is a light in this world. He told us that all who believe in Him will not live in darkness. We would have to conclude from this statement that all who do not believe in Him do live in darkness. So, what does that really mean? Obviously, the “light” Jesus spoke about is a spiritual light. It doesn’t mean that those who believe in Him live in perpetual sunshine or that non-believers live in a cave. However, we can use the concept of physical light to glean understanding of Jesus’ words.  You may remember from an Art Class that the property of reflecting light, of a particular wavelength, causes all color. With light, we can see with our physical eyes, all that there is to see. Black, or darkness, is caused by the absorption of light rays, and is the complete absence of light or color.

The topic of light vs dark is being spoken and written about a lot at this time.  Start looking and listening and you will become more aware of this. Light vs darkness is a true and relevant phenomenon in these last days for Christians on the earth.  We believe that we are in the closing time era of the “age of Grace”. The age of Grace began when Jesus came to the earth as a Savior for mankind. Grace is the unmerited favor of Jesus. It is salvation unto eternity even though we don’t deserve it. Jesus is (and was and always will be) the Light of the world.

John 8:12 (NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Remember, truth can only be seen in the light. We are in a time of unprecedented spiritual light as well as unprecedented spiritual darkness. We are certain many of you have perceived an increase in intensity of the battle which is raging in the spirit realm. It can also be seen and felt in physical form in this chaotic world. There are wars, rumors of wars, deep division among the people and increasing erratic weather. Audible “groanings” in the earth can be seen and heard. Seas and rivers “crashing” against the piers, causing major flooding; mudslides; volcanic eruptions; heavy snow mounting up by the foot; record high and low temperatures are being set with greater frequency; raging fires out of control causing death and destruction in its path. These are just some of the effects of observable “darkness” in this world, but many would say it’s just a “natural progression” of “global distress” and think mankind can “solve the problem.”

If we are in the last days of the “Age of Grace” what will happen when that “age” is over?  (John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.)

This is a good question to ask, but what do we do in the here and now with all the darkness and destruction swirling around us? How can we “live above the noise” that is pounding on our ears?

Isaiah 60:2 (MEV) For the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord shall rise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you.

This darkness that covers the earth brings with it: blackness, gloom, despair, terror, and ignorance (from the Hebrew meaning of “darkness” shall cover the earth).  “Deep darkness” is deep gloom that comes on people.  This gloom is a form of spiritual oppression that can hit and “blind side” a person like a weighty blow from a boxer in the ring…. which causes confusion and pain, ending in loss of health or worse. 

How can we counter these blows?  How can we as Christians “stand” and “finish the race” set before us?

Jesus Christ came as a LIGHT to the world so that all who believe in Him (John 3:16; 12:46) will not have to live in darkness.  The Lord has sent out His Light and His Truth to lead us. (Psalm 43:3) God has called us “out of darkness into His marvelous light.” God is LIGHT and in Him there is NO darkness.

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

We can WALK in the LIGHT and overcome the darkness that surrounds us.

1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Psalm 119:130 (KJV) The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

We can have understanding in these dark days from God’s word in our hearts and minds.  If you have read to this point then no doubt you agree with us (and more importantly, God’s word) that there is a deep darkness which is tangible in these last days of the age of Grace. You may now be hungry to grasp hold of being truly able to live above the noise. Please look for our next post which will show how standing firm in the Lord brings us to a place of spiritual light…. A place where we can live above the noise of this chaotic world. We’re not talking about spiritual battle here because the battle is the Lord’s. We are standing firm in our authority through Jesus to be more than overcomers!