I was Once Blinded By The Darkness As Were You

"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

I am certain that you have been in a dark room and then someone flips the light switch on and you are temporarily blinded by the light. Actually ---- there is a medical explanation for it. You see ---- your eyes have what are called rods and cones. And the rods have something called "visual purple" which allows us to see in the dark. But we can't see colors without light. That is why you might put on 2 different colors of socks if you get dressed in the dark, like I typically do. ---- (So I have learned to get me socks out the night before.) 

Then there are the cones. Cones become active with ambient light and they make it possible for you to see colors. (I hope you are still awake - I am almost done!) Well, when it is dark and the rods are at work and suddenly there is light - the visual purple gets "washed out" by the light and momentarily you are blinded. So - there you have it. Now you can impress your friends at the next cook-out! The god of this age, Satan, has blinded the lost and so they have no "color vision" if you will.

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:14

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." - Romans 8:5-6

What that means in a practical sense is that the lost cannot understand the spiritual truth found in the Word of God. They will reject it as foolishness - it is patently contrary to their understanding - that's because their minds are set on the things of the flesh. It does not mean that we should not share the Gospel and the word with the lost --- just like we were one day --- they desperately need to hear it - whether they know it or not. 

But understand that when you share the Gospel, you are casting seed - you --- by yourself --- can't save anyone that is a transaction of faith between the hearer and God through the Spirit of God. In a parable in Matthew 13 Jesus explained that not all the seed will fall on good ground.

"Some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.  Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But [some] fell on good ground and yielded a crop" - Matthew 13:4-8

There are 4 circumstances where the seed fell but only one that yielded an eternal crop. In an over simplification, that is 25% of the time. You and I are in that 25%. 

Take a moment to thank the Lord for the one who was faithful to cast the seed that took root in our lives! 

The gate is wide that leads to destruction - 75%. Martie and I served in southern Haiti for 4 years - 2011 to 2015. During one trek to a mountain village, I passed a trail that led off of the main trail and was blocked by a small gate. Behind that gate was a smaller, less travelled path. Unlike the well traveled path that we were using. As I walked past it, I was reminded of the narrow Gate that Jesus talked about so I took a picture of the gate to remind me of Jesus' words.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

And so our message to a people who are running pel-mel toward the gates of Hell. Jesus Saves! Preach the gospel with your words, certainly, but also with your life.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone