During my morning devotional on yesterday, I came across an interesting passage of scripture in Matthew 4:13-16:
And leaving Nazareth, He went and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee [in the district] of the Gentiles—“The people who were sitting (living) in [spiritual] darkness have seen a great Light, And for those who were sitting (living) in the land and shadow of [spiritual and moral] death, Upon them a Light has dawned.”
To summarize this passage, God sent Jesus to live among the Gentiles-non Jewish people, who didn't believe or worship in the one and only truly living God. Because of this, they were considered to be living in spiritual darkness and doomed to hell. Yet, God brought them a Light! If you understand bible history, you know that during Jesus' ministry on earth, His primary focus was on saving the Jewish people or the Israelites. In fact, when a Gentile woman came to Him and asked Him to deliver her daughter in Matthew 15:24, He told her, “I was commissioned by God and sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Though He told her that, because of her consistent faith He delivered her daughter.
Now if this was true, He was only sent to save the Jewish people, why would God send Him to live among the Gentiles? The irony! But there was a reason. Jesus was sent to save the whole world, all nations and people, but during His earthly ministry He was sent to save God's chosen people first. It was His disciples after Him who were commissioned to go out and preach and save the Gentiles. Yet, God still allowed Jesus to be a Light to the Gentiles before this happened. A flicker of hope in their dark doomed environment.
When I think about this passage of scripture in context and what it means for me and you, I believe God is saying that just like Jesus, He will send us in dark places to be a light to those living in spiritual darkness. As Christians we are called to, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone" (Mark 15:16). And everyone, especially includes those living in spiritual darkness and on there way to hell. We should be trying to win as many souls as we can for Kingdom of God. Yet, witnessing is something us self-proclaimed Christians rarely do. That why Jesus said "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Mark 9:38).
We have to do better, me included! But I think that's the main reason why God puts us in dark places. In the dark ,our lights shine and attracts those who need to know about Christ and His forgiveness, love, and salvation. Naturally, those living in darkness resist the Light at first, but the Word says in John 1:5, "The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it." When you are truly living for God, your light is going to shine bright and everyone is not going to like it. Yet, they won't be able to put it out because God has called you to be a light to them, so you can share the message of eternal salvation to them (Acts 13:47). Through your light, He is going to draw many people to Christ.
So stop getting mad when God positions in your dark places and around spiritual dark people! Your job, with all the wicked, luke-warm, and atheist people there, He placed you there. Your school, with all the fornicating, sexually perverted, and I am just living for me mindset people, He placed you there. If you are in an environment surrounded in darkness, you are placed there intentionally by God to be a light. In the words of Jesus, "Don't hide your light, Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:16). In the dark, turn on your light!
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