I read the news on several websites as I sipped my coffee this morning and I was shaking my head. The word that came to mind was “chaos”. Wars, (Syria, Ukraine, and Gaza), pestilence, (Ebola virus), natural disasters, (landslide in New Delhi), stubborn inaction to address the immigration debacle in congress in order to gain political ground; it’s more than enough to make one shake their head.
I was thinking of how the Bible described the beginning of recorded time. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Many scholars substitute the word “chaos” for “void”. God brought order along with His light to the world which I believe is a metaphor for Jesus. Matthew Henry wrote: “Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void; it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul, (one that is not born again), there is disorder, confusion, and every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us.”
God replaced the chaos in the world with His light, (love), and all was peaceful and perfect in the Garden of Eden. Then along came sin and chaos returned to the earth. I’m often asked why God allowed this to happen. One answer might be found in 2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Again my trusted mentor Matthew Henry commented on this phenomenon: “As light was the beginning of the first creation; so, in the new creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The ministers of the gospel are subject to the same passions and weaknesses as other men. God could have sent angels to make known the glorious doctrine of the gospel, or could have sent the most admired sons of men to teach the nations, but he chose humbler, weaker vessels, that his power might be more glorified in upholding them, and in the blessed change wrought by their ministry”.
Hmmm . . . No one is too big of a challenge for Christ to transform . . .
Please pray about your position in all of this. Are you on the dark side of the moon or on the light? As you can see from the writings of Mr. Henry, God doesn’t need angels to spread the Gospel, why he can even use old reprobates like me to preach the good news. If so, how much more could he use you? Are you willing to do so? Selah . . .
Have a great weekend and go to Honey Lake Church, (or somewhere), this Sunday. These are the times that we need to get down on our knees and pray for the lost in this chaotic world.
Eph. 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
August 1, 2014 – Click here to listen