“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21
As the day of the Lord’s return approaches, He let us know that there would be birth pains in the earth that increased in intensity as well as frequency. In Mathew 24:4 (NIV) Jesus says: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
We know that as the time of birth comes closer, the pains become more frequent and more intense. Yet, this is the church’s greatest time on earth! Jesus tells us in Mathew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Jesus has told us these things in advanced so that we will not be alarmed. He does not want us to get caught up in the cares of the world. He does not want us to get caught up in the division, strife, bickering and fear. Instead, He wants us to be the light in the darkness. As Isaiah 60: 1-6 says: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and thy shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.”
This is our time to shine! Look what the scriptures tell us. As God’s glory rises upon us, not only will it draw the gentiles to the LORD, but they will bring the wealth unto us. As we do things God’s way, He is able to bless us with more than enough! There is so much darkness now in the world, people are desperate for the light. They are desperate for someone who walks in love and brings hope and a better way of doing things.
However, we can not be the light if we are communing with the darkness. We can’t partake in the bickering and strife and anger and at the same time be a light to those around us. We must be separate. We are the sanctified ones. We are called to be set apart and Holy. The Lord is Holy and He is calling us to be Holy.
Jesus tells us in Mathew 5:14-16: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
As we let our light shine, others will see our good works and Glorify God! Our good works bring Glory to God! For Romans 2:4 tells us that it’s “the goodness of God that leadeth thee to repentance.”
It’s God’s goodness that draws people to repent. The world’s way of doing things is to get revenge. The world’s way of handling things is to return evil for evil. Yet Romans 12:17-20 tells us: “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
This way of handling things goes completely against human nature. It is something we have to work toward. We have to stir up the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts when we have been wronged. God will bring the justice. He wants us to bring the light!
“But of times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the LORD so cometh as a thief in the night…But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and thy that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 & 4-9
Let us continue to be a light of hope in a dark world. Let us shine forth the love and goodness of God in a dark and crooked generation. As we do, we will draw others to the light! We surely will not be overcome by the evil. Instead we will triumph in Christ and overcome evil with good!
Further reading: Isaiah 60, Mathew 12, Galatians 5:13-26, 1 Corinthians 13, Psalm 2:8
