THE PICTURE OF A WORLD WITHOUT CHRIST

   From the very beginning of all creation clear difference between light and darkness was presented in (Genesis 1:2-5). "And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from darkness. And God called the light Day, and darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." Let us note that all the works of creation which God carried out in the atmosphere of light (Day) were qualified by the Holy Spirit as "good". On the other hand, the condition that preceded as " without form and void". The NIV of the Bible expressed it as "formless and empty". The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary explains the word " void" as "empty, completely lacking". Altogether hopeless! This must be an unpleasant, ugly and horrible entity. It is not surprising that God in His omniscience and love for humanity immediately reacted by terminating such an unfortunate and ill-omened order and era. Darkness truly is the opposite of light. An atmosphere of darkness portrays people groping, stumbling and falling, having casualties of all sorts, tears, sorrow, regrets and ultimately the tragic end of death. You cannot find help in darkness because there is no illumination and therefore no direction. Rather than creating and building up, what darkness offers is destruction.

   In the light however, you can find direction, turn from danger or pitfall; you can repair, create and save life. Darkness is figuratively and rightly used to represent evil or sinful setting whose champion and mastermind is Satan and his demons. They are responsible for every negative and unpleasant experiences and activities earlier enumerated, leading to death and destruction; darkness robs people of peace and joy. Yes, he came to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10a). This is the hopeless (void and formless) end of sinful humanity. But, thank God for the coming of the light. Jesus is the light of the world, the light that gives life (John 1:4,9; 8:12; 14:6). He ushers His followers to the glorious eternal life (Colossians 1:27). Pictures of a Dark world abound. 

Darkness in Eden!

   God created the first man (Adam) and woman (Eve) and gave them light in form of breath of eternal life, divine heath, garden with abundance of food and all comfort, power and dominion over all creation, and divine fellowship with Him. However, the devil, the thief and architect of all evils robbed mankind of the light by craftily leading them into the darkness of sin. The inevitable consequence was endless suffering that has lingered till today. They were plunged into the dark world characterized by: 

1. Loss of fellowship with God (Genesis 3:8).

2. Loss of God's glory, dominion and power.

3. Loss of peace and joy. (Genesis 3:8-13,16).

4. Curses. (Genesis 3:14-19). 

5. Spiritual death. (Genesis 3:23-24). 

6. Physical death, and

7. Fear and insecurity (Genesis 3:8). 

   Indeed the world of darkness is one of woe and endless suffering. Examine yourself! (2 Corinthians 13:5). Are you living in darkness or in light? Living without Christ means living in darkness.

Kingship and Kingdom in Darkness

   The Bible is filled with records of struggles for assumption of kingship and establishment of kingdoms in darkness. Hence such names as Jeroboam son of Nebat, Ahab and his wife, Jezebel; Manasseh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod and etcetera have becomKings.  erence points and by-words for evils.

Jeroboam Son of Nebat: 

   (1 Kings 11:26-27; 12:28-34; 13:16). In line with his rejection of God in his heart, he made two golden calves and blasphemously declared, "Here are hour gods O Isreal who brought you up out of Egypt." (1 Kings 12:28). He thus led Isreal into unmatched idolatry.

   Ahab and Jezebel. It was said of Ahab so of Omri: He did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of the Kings before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of  Jeroboam so of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in Samaria. He made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the Lord to anger. His wife, Jezebel connived with him to plot and kill Naboth the Jezreelite and robbed him of his vineyard. Jezebel killed many prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4). She also sought to kill Elijah (1 Kings 19:2). How did they end up? Of course! You know the story. Disaster was  on Ahab and his household.

   Manasseh: As king of Judah he did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelite. (2 Kings 2:2). He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem I will put my name". He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practices sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. It is a fearful thing to live in a kingdom ruled in darkness.

   Nebuchadnezzar: The wicked and extremely idolatrous king of Babylon who made the golden image to which he sought the then world to bow to in worship. He was tragically reduced to a four-footed beast and made to eat grass under the mighty hand of God. Darkness will always lead to a tragic end.

   Our Contemporary Kings/Rulers: The politicians of today in quests for power and rulership are known for falsehood, deception, violence, opportunism and exploitation. Those who occupy political offices today are opportunists whose styles of governance are characterized by corruption, fraud, terrorism, oppression, callousness and insensitivity. These are the features of a world in darkness.

   The Spreading Darkness of the Last Days: One of the global features of the last days is increasing manifestations of darkness (John 16:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:12,15). Abominations would abound permeating even the holy place and assuming a stand. Saint Paul also predicted the godlessness of the last days. Their characteristic vices such as love of money and love of self; being boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, brutal, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power shall culminate in the loss of the world peace. This is a clear picture of pitch darkness gradually enveloping the world.

The End of the world of Darkness

   "The wicked shall be cast into hell and all the nations that forget God" (Psalm 9:17). "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). This is the destination of anyone who remains in darkness to the end of his/her life on earth.

The Way Out of Darkness

   Over and over again we should all know that there is no other w-a-y but Jesus Christ the Son of the Living; through Him alone we have access to the Father-God, our Creator. Through Him alone we are sure of safety and escape from darkness. Jesus paid the price of sin once and for all on the cross of Calvary, and cried out, "it is finished" (John 1:4-5; 8:12; Romans 5:17-19; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 19:30). By that he brought about the era of darkness to a perpetual end. He is the one who delivers His adherents from the dominion of darkness, being the author if redemption (Colossians 1:13-14). The world of darkness and its characteristic evil manifestations have left humanity in total unrest and doom. The perilous times shall precede the rapture of the Church, and the second coming of Christ. No human government can change the order.

   "Salvation is found in no one else for there is no name under heaven given among men by which we shall be saved" (Acts 4:12). 

   "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends if the earth for I am God, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22). 

   Jesus therefore declared, "Come unto me all you who labour and are heavy laden, I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He only can disperse the darkness of your life.

   Have you not suffered enough dearly beloved! Why not  hasten to run to Jesus the light of the world and have eternal rest to your soul? Don't say you've go far; friend: simply make up your mind to quit the world if darkness, confess and renounce the evil lifestyle of darkness. Invite Jesus unto your heart now by faith and be saved today.

God bless you.