“Delivered From
The Power Of Darkness”
Colossians 1:12-17
12)
Giving thanks
unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of
the saints in light:
13)
Who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom
of his dear Son:
14)
In whom we
have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15)
Who is the
image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16)
For by him
were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:
all things were created by him, and for him:
17)
And he is
before all things, and by him all things consist.
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we really understand that many are still trying to come out of darkness? This
should not be true of the redeemed, for once one accepts salvation, he has been delivered. Unfortunately, it is all too true of
many saints whose problem stems from not accepting what God has already done.
We deal with many things as reality which are no
longer reality to us because of the sacrifice of Jesus.
We
leave much to the future that we should be enjoying in the present. Jesus died
for our problems to be solved, now! Jesus suffered for our healing to be made
manifest, now! We have been delivered from darkness to walk in the light, now!
So,
what of this “prisoner mentality” we hear so much about? The concept is that
one who spends a substantial amount of time in prison will, even after release,
retain thoughts, attitudes, feelings, actions and perceptions of one who still
occupies a cell. Of course, this shows us that imprisonment is not accomplished
by physical confinement, but through confining the mind.
Man,
being a creature of habit, tends to cleave to the familiar. This fact, combined
with that stubborn mind in which we take so much pride, dooms many to a
defeated life even after salvation. After all, freedom means nothing to one who
cannot see that he is free.
What
a waste that we have something given to us that others can never hope to have,
yet, we often refuse it. The angels who fell with Satan were bound in
everlasting chains of darkness—and can never be loosed.
Relatives
of ours who died in darkness (without salvation) now have no hope of ever
coming to the light. One thing is certain: one in darkness today is there of his own choosing, for the work of the Lord is being
proliferated on radio, television and in print.
There
is an old song entitled “Nobody’s Fault but Mine” which states that “If I
should die and my soul be lost, it’s nobody’s fault
but mine. It is certainly true that the Lord offers deliverance to every man.
No one will be able to stand before God and say that he wasn’t given a chance.
The
reason that one who is unsaved is in darkness is
because he is unable to see spiritual truth and is therefore “blind” to it. The
unredeemed man is much like the man born blind spoken of in
Of
course, it will be easier for us to accept light if we decide that we are tired
of darkness. Receiving light involves receiving the Word of God. A hunger and
thirst for the principles of God will lead us to the Scriptures giving us
further insurance “against” the day of darkness.
We
have a great responsibility in helping to deliver man out of darkness, though
many hear and have heard the Word of God, it is its truth which is absent from
today’s world. So, there must be those who are willing to be products of the
Word, conducting themselves holy so those in darkness
will see that there is a True Light.
When
others see us victorious, triumphing and happy in the Lord, we must be sure
that they understand that what has changed in us has changed because of Jesus
and “I did nothing”—but submit and obey. Only by seeing that there is a
triumphant life to be had will those not like us realize that they need help.
Like-it-or-not,
we cannot adopt a “hands-off” approach. Part of our job being saved is to get
others to see their own personal condition. One thing a saint can never do is
condone sin. By too many who call themselves “saved,” sin is treated as
respectable. How can there be anything respectable about something that God
hates?
Too
many are stopped being one hundred percent committed to the Lord by what they feel
He requires which is “unreasonable.” This in turn, quiets yet another witness
who could be a testament of the triumph of light over darkness.
Whatever
God says is reasonable! It is not “reasonable” for one with a fatal disease to
be healed—but God says it is reasonable! It is not “reasonable: that one who
has never been able to walk can rise from his wheelchair and “run” his first
steps—but God says it’s reasonable! It is not “reasonable” that one without
hope of life with God can be raised to a new life which promises him eternal
life—but God says it’s reasonable!
Man
will be brought to the light by being steered to the Light Giver. He should
never be confused and unable to identify to Whom
he must look. Those who would calm salvation, yet continue to walk in darkness
do not exemplify being “delivered from the power of darkness.” The world must
know that darkness has power only over those not “plugged in” to the power
source and that the Light always overshadows darkness.