Distractions of Darkness

I woke up this morning with a song from the words of Psalm 16:

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11 KJV

I turn to the Lord often with this request: “Show me the path of Life, Lord.” We have overwhelming evidence from our earthly existence that we need to be shown His pathways to live abundantly on the earth. We are so easily distracted by the world and its tumultuous events. At this time, the early 21st century, there is multiplied evil and corruption daily, particularly within my own land of America.

With all the sources of news in our electronic world, we are flooded with global news of calamity and disaster from every side. These and other factors in our daily lives subject us to many distractions that are most unprofitable for spiritual growth. For those waiting for the Lord to fully claim His own, it is critical that we be aware of all the ways such distractions capture our focus, impact our intentions, and rob us of sustaining our status as children of light:

"For you are all children of light and 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." 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 KJV

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." Ephesians 5:8 NIV

What does it mean to watch and be sober, to live as children of light, to know we are the children of the day? How are we to turn from all the darkness flooding our way from worldly events? We have never lived in such a time as this, where daily the bad reports multiply and divide, birthing more lies and hypocrisy. All of the loud proclamations by those resisting and opposing this darkness do not seem to alter situations either.

We don’t have to seek it out. We are flooded with bad news from the dark souls of humans as well as inescapable environmental disasters. Darkness is ever before us, especially in the ways we access information in this age of technology. Darkness pours forth while our human words and actions of protest lack the power of the Almighty Voice from heaven to actually create change. God only has power to speak change into the hearts of humans.

Evil is nothing new, continuing endlessly, increasing in tumultuous storms and earthquakes until the darkness of it all would threaten to swallow us up! It tries to overshadow every bit of light and goodness that flourishes in spite of it. There seems an inability for us believers to stop focusing on it, to stay away from the bad news, though it is greatly distressing to our entire being—spirit, soul, and body. It is like Peter said of Lot, whom God rescued:

“…and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.” 2 Peter 2:7-8 NIV

We are be sober in watching for the Lord as we pray for all men, but prayer, like all the directives of the Lord, must be birthed by the spirit of God, who searches all hearts and completely knows the minds of humans. We must learn to wait until there is an unction, a prompting of the spirit before we respond in intercession, support, or action in response to the overwhelming needs around us in this world. We cannot do it all.

Though we pray for persons and events brought to our hearts before God by the Holy spirit, though we are mindful of the deep suffering of the innocent, there is so much that remains. I sometimes feel guilt as I dwell in the peace of God in my little midwestern suburban home with all my needs met while others so grievously suffer. I ask the Lord: “Isn’t there something I should be doing, Lord, besides prayer? How much is enough to do?”

Unless God leads, we do not become publicly active in addressing the many needs that come flooding our way daily. Our citizenship is in heaven, where Christ our King rules. There is no purpose in doing anything unless the Lord shows us, prompts us, moves upon us to do it. Without that, it is just works without power, our own passion without significant change.

We must be moved only by His spirit of life, not our own compassion, fear for others, or simply to look like we care about the issues affecting everyone. But when we try to turn away from sources of darkness, our attention and focus keeps being drawn back to all of the darkness. What is our fascination with this? What spiritual work does it accomplish if we only become grieved for others, burdened by the suffering of so many, and, in our hopelessness, run again to the Lord for comfort and understanding?

Jesus only did what the Father showed Him to do. He surely saw evil all around Him, poverty and need, corruption and cruelty but stayed sober, focusing on what Father God directed Him to do, the high purpose to which He was called. Though He became weary, though He needed time away to be with His Father, He did not become overwhelmed, but continued to respond to those needs and concerns brought to Him as God directed.

When I asked the Lord about this, He said to me: “You have no conversation with darkness. You dwell in the light, a child of the Day. There is nothing there for you in the darkness.” That is a very clear directive! As a child of light, I have no conversation with darkness. I cannot dwell there as I was made for light. There is nothing for me to eat, to feed upon that will nourish my spiritual life. There are many Christians who are directed differently, with gifts and callings that differ, requiring action as God directs, but this is what the Lord told me.

The Lord further explained to me: “It’s okay for you to seem to do nothing in the eyes of others. This is a special time when the work I am doing in those called to be sons that is not visible to others. It is inward submission before Me, resting in Me, looking to Me and waiting upon My direction. Keep looking to Me.” I have been a doer, a helper of others all my life, so it is quite strange to seemingly be idle while God works on my inner man. I

In retirement, I can devote my time to the Lord, learning from Him, worshiping Him, interceding for those He brings to my heart and enjoying my allotment. My focus, my heart’s desire, remains passionately on becoming like Him. He has changed my focus from outward to inward so that, in future, I can be truly a light in the world to others. Darkness will remain until He comes to bring His fullness here on earth, but I am to stay in Him.

So how do I get away from darkness without becoming an ostrich with her head in the sand? After repeated stumblings with my curiosity drawing me to the mess our planet is in, I have been led cut off the forces of darkness at their source. I have fasted from the news for years, but now am done with social media, whose news about world events flood each platform. I miss catching up with friends and families through their posts and pictures, but I haven’t missed knowing what is happening in the world.

The important news gets through regardless, anything I need to know, but my focus is different. I see that God’s priority for the called, chosen, and faithful waiting for His kingdom to come in the earth is to continue the path set before us in order to obtain the prize of the high calling in Christ.

I write this to support others in changing what they daily feed upon that is unprofitable for spiritual growth. Please do not misunderstand. I am not making a law for others to follow. Many watch the news to stay informed and are enabled by the Lord to avoid disturbances to their hearts and peace that rob me. Many work in honorable positions within the news as well, protected and serving the Lord in their calling to bring truth.

I am not made that way. I cannot experience the blessing of a warm bed, abundant food and water, clothing, and income to meet my needs, without empathy for those who do not have such things. My gratitude to the Lord for all He has given me is continually paired with prayers for all that do not have these things. I cannot enjoy my beautiful grandbaby without awareness of the many babies who do not have their basic needs met, who are cruelly mistreated, abandoned, their young lives ruined by the evil of others.

I never want to become immune to the sufferings of others, but neither do I need to carry a burden greater than the Lord has given me. When my heart cries out for the suffering of the innocent, for the heavy burdens so many carry, I cannot keep from seeking the Lord that He hear and answer their cries around the world, praying for all who are pursuing the highest in God so that power and authority will be granted to bring change in the hearts of men.

So we consider the sources from which we draw our information daily. Is it edifying or destructive? Is it profitable or a waste of precious time? Entertainment can be neutral or even a blessing, but also contains gossip, lies, and evil portrayed within shows, books, and events. There is no pure source coming from humans on this earth. Now we can participate virtually in every sin of the flesh and the world by hearing about it. We can have online or virtual fellowship with all manner of people that do not offer godly fellowship.

Though some are inspiring as they serve the Lord more publicly, most are not examples nor providers of life to our spirits. Therefore,

“I shall walk before Yahweh In the land of the living. I believe; wherefore I am speaking: I am very much humbled; I said in my consternation, ‘Every human is a liar.’

What can I restore to Yahweh for all His bountiful dealings toward me? I shall take up the cup of salvation and call on the Name of Yahweh. I shall pay my vows to Yahweh straight in front of all His people.” Psalms 116: 9-14 CLV

We are told by the Psalmist that all humans are liars, so who can we believe? Only the Lord! Oh to only hear that still small Voice within, to hear His truth above all! Starting the day with God is strengthening, but teach us how to turn to the channel of the holy spirit only. While we go about our daily activities, we ask that He swallow up all other voices within and without. Only the Lord can swallow up our death with His life within.

The Lord Almighty is everywhere and anywhere. He can speak truth in love regardless of outward noise and tumult.

“Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience; become not, then, partakers with them, for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye,

for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth, proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict,

for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of, and all the things reproved by the light are manifested, for everything that is manifested is light…” Ephesians 5:6-13 Wycliff Translation

Paul directly addresses this issue in these scriptures. Do not partake of darkness—it brings forth no fruit. We walk in the light, giving evidence of what is well-pleasing to the Lord. Many things we have consumed from the darkness of this present age are a shame to even speak about. Jesus spoke only the words of His Father and He has commanded us to be like Him. We are promised when we see Him face to face, we will be like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We wait, we endure with patience, until the chosen of God are empowered to roar from Zion in a word of power that changes the conditions from which darkness flows. Can we wait with other believers to join the saints on both sides of the river until we are actually enabled to speak His word of power to bring about change? Do we believe that His new heaven and new earth are on the way?

We do have pleasures on the way, enjoyments this life offers, while He teaches us to be wise and discerning. But years ago, the Lord taught me that what we focus upon grows. It matters what we allow our minds and hearts to gaze upon, consider, and repeatedly consume. To grow the spiritual man within, we must focus on the Christ dwelling in our hearts, not the darkness around us. When we feed our inner man, that spiritual being within us grows and expands to swallow up the darkness within and around us.

We live on the earth as in a room filled with darkness. Do we focus on the darkness, rebuke the darkness, rail against the darkness, speak scripture to the darkness, or search in the darkness for a glimmer of light? Or do we turn on the light, bringing the light that dispels the darkness? Where is our focus? Yes, darkness does need to be addressed. We would be most foolish to deny that it exists or underestimate the power of such forces. Paul says:

“For the rest, brethren mine, be invigorated in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the panoply of God, to enable you to stand up to the stratagems of the Adversary, for it is not ours to wrestle with blood and flesh, but with the sovereignties, with the authorities, with the world-mights of this darkness, with the spiritual forces of wickedness among the celestials.

Therefore take up the panoply of God that you may be enabled to withstand in the wicked day, and having effected all, to stand." Ephesians 6:1014 CLV

Let us be crystal clear about our adversary and where he resides. His domain is in the earthly hearts of humans. Jeremiah has made it extremely clear where wickedness dwells. It is not in one individual, one group, one teaching, one belief, one culture, one race, one country. Oh, no! It is in all hearts:

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT

Think of it! Our hearts are the most deceitful of all things. The hearts of humanity are indeed a bottomless pit! All wickedness comes from the hearts of men. Jesus said:

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.” Matthew 15:18-20 BSB

The religious leaders of Jesus’ time were rebuking Jesus and His disciples for what they did externally that was against their rules and traditions. But Jesus will forever rebuke us, as He did them, when we choose to focus on such external acts instead of extending compassion and mercy for others. Any external act stems from the heart, where evil is first conceived. Why rebuke humans for what they do when Jesus is so clear about why they do it?

We can never ever fix up this man of flesh by changing outward behavior! Have we not yet seen that laws do not change hearts? God changes hearts, promising even to give us new hearts, ones that are tender and teachable, easy to be entreated by Him, making it possible for us to change inside so that our words and our behaviors match. Then we are truly the light of this world:

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” -Hebrews 8:10-11 ESV

The writer of Hebrews is quoting Jeremiah 31:33, where God first made this promise to His people. That which has been impossible is accomplished by the Lord in us, so that we are made into a people with clean hearts with no guile and wishing no ill to ourneighbor. It is a promise being ever more fulfilled in these days. Change through a new Day in God, a dispensation of love from the heavenlies, is at hand:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new! Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” Revelation 21:1-5 NIV

All…things…new: a new heaven, a spiritual place in which to dwell, where there is no darkness nor shadow of turning; a new earth wherein is no destruction, nothing that will hurt or destroy in His holy mountain to cause tears; no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain. That is the old order that is passing away. Let us not become distracted, as I have been, by the things of darkness.

Let us, instead, stand in patient endurance, holding the line of faith that God will do all He has promised to do in and for His people in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Father God knows each heart, what is safe and what is dangerous for every one of His children. His spirit reveals what to avoid in each of our daily lives. Just as with human children, some who are exposed to darkness are deeply disturbed and affected by what they see and hear, while others are not.

Many are called to work with those in darkness, as I have been, bringing the light and love of the Lord to the wounded, hurting, and needy among us. He has a path of life for each of us. In these days of earthly darkness, we rejoice and praise Him for God does all things well. Everything is in His hands while He destroys the lies and darkness of humans, bringing forth in future this new heaven and new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.

We wait upon Him while filling our own hearts with the light and life of our Lord. No more distractions of darkness! Praise His marvelous name!