A Beacon of Hope

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennA beacon of hope — Twilight is upon us.  Again, another week comes with another mass shooting – this time at a church in Alabama.  Another week, more hatred and wickedness.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennI tell you, the times that we are living in today are just u003cemu003edifferentu003c/emu003e.  Yes, we have had some dark times in the past; on this day we are actually observing Juneteenth, the day commemorates the “end of slavery”.  Now, slavery u003cemu003eof that kindu003c/emu003e does not exist here today, however, I would tell you that slavery of another kind is ever present today and its control is growing tighter.  Mankind is in the bondage of wickedness and the bondage of wickedness is spreading u003cemu003erapidlyu003c/emu003e.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, u003cemu003etwilight u003c/emu003eis upon us; darkness – wickedness – is growing more and more and night is beginning to settle in.  When morning comes, the light that rises will be emanating from the glory of God.  I want you to understand in this scenario, the new day will be the day of the Lord where in His light both wickedness and hatred – sin – will be judged.  To some, the day of the Lord will be a good but to those whose heart is wicked, it will be a u003cemu003eterrible u003c/emu003eday.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, as darkness is beginning to u003cemu003esettle inu003c/emu003e over this world, true believers must begin to move with a sense of urgency – we cannot be fearful.  As we saw in last week’s sermon – u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/in-the-midst-of-wickedness/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u00229405u0022u003eIn the Midst of Wickednessu003c/au003e – now is the time that we should be ever watchful in prayer, wise, humble, and moving with u003cemu003efervent u003c/emu003elove about us.  In our key verse, Paul encourages us as children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, to shine as lights.  So, in other words, now is the time for all of us to be a beacon of hope in the growing darkness of night so that others who become lost and are lost can find their way.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:pullquote u002du002du003enu003cfigure class=u0022wp-block-pullquoteu0022u003enu003cblockquoteu003eu003csupu003e14 u003c/supu003eDo all things without complaining and disputing, u003csupu003e15 u003c/supu003ethat you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the worldnnu003cciteu003eKEY VERSE – PHILIPPIANS 2:14-15 NKJVu003c/citeu003eu003c/blockquoteu003enu003c/figureu003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:pullquote u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eThe Darkness of Nightu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul took a moment to write about the coming of the Lord and the days of the darkest nights for the world (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thess.+2%3A1-12u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e2 Thess. 2:1-12u003c/au003e).  In this passage of scripture, we will see that Paul stated that the day of the Lord would not come u003cemu003eunless u003c/emu003ea couple of things take place first.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eThe Great Apostasyu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennFirst, we will see that Paul said that the day of the Lord will not come u003cemu003eunless u003c/emu003ethe falling away – the Great Apostasy – comes first (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thess.+2%3A3u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e2 Thess. 2:3u003c/au003e).  This falling away speaks to the u003cemu003etotal departure u003c/emu003efrom faith in the Lord; this begins when the church, the true and genuine believers,  will be called to Christ in what we refer to as the rapture.  The day will eventually come when there will be a u003cemu003etotal departure u003c/emu003efrom faith in the Lord and the world will plunge into total darkness, spiritually, and there will be great tribulation.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, the church is still present in the world, so as Paul said, we should not be u003cemu003edeceived u003c/emu003einto believing that the day of the Lord has already come – it has not.  However, if you simply take a look around at the world, the signs of such a falling away are already present; it is clear that a departure from faith in the Lord is happening in our world today.  Again, I tell you that though we are not living in total darkness, twilight is upon the world.  What are we, the true believers, to do in these hours?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eThe Antichristu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn that same verse from Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, he wrote that the day of the Lord will not come u003cemu003euntil u003c/emu003ethe revelation of the man of sin, u003cemu003ethe son of perditionu003c/emu003e.  To know who the son of perdition is, let us first take a look at who his father is.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTo the Jews that stood in opposition to Him, Jesus at one point in time likened them to being like their u003cemu003e“father” u003c/emu003ewho does not stand in truth because the truth is not in him.  Jesus then said of this father, u003cemu003ehe is a liar and he is the father of itu003c/emu003e (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A44u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 8:44u003c/au003e).  Jesus plainly tells us that the “father” of perdition is the devil, the great adversary that opposes the Lord.  Like his father, the son of perdition will oppose the Lord and exalt himself like he is God during the days of great tribulation.  In doing this, the son of perdition will deceive the world (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thess.+2%3A3-4u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e2 Thess. 2:3-4u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, we know the son of perdition by the name which John used for him in his first epistle – The Antichrist.  Again, I want you to understand that we aren’t living in the days of the Great Tribulation, however, u003cemu003ethe signs of those daysu003c/emu003e are already present in our world!  In fact, John wrote in his first epistle that the u003cemu003espirit u003c/emu003eof antichrist is u003cemu003ealready present u003c/emu003ein our world doing works that oppose the Lord (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A1-3u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 John 4:1-3u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eTwilight is upon usu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTwilight is upon – what are we to do in these hours?  The days of the Great Tribulation will be the darkest days this world will ever see and there will be little that can be done in those days.  With it being the twilight hours, this means that there is still time for u003cemu003esomething u003c/emu003eto be done.  There is still time for those that live with wickedness in their heart to turn to the Lord before night and before the morning comes.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTo speak in terms that some of you may understand, the street lights are starting to come on and dad is u003cemu003ewaiting u003c/emu003efor us to come home.  I was one of those kids that could stay outside and play all day, but u003cemu003eI knew u003c/emu003ewhen it was time to stop and get inside.  The last thing I wanted is for dad to have to call for me to come in!  The last thing you want is an angry dad having to come out, get you, and bring you home!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eA Light of the Worldu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, these are the hours where we, the children of God, u003cemu003ewho knows betteru003c/emu003e, should be the responsible ones and start telling others it’s time to start making our way home!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, some would much rather stay outside and keep on playing into the night hours; they would rather be hard-headed (disobedient).  So, it can be quite difficult to be that responsible kid that’s trying to go home and tell others it’s time to go home.  Nobody ever wanted to be the “goody two shoes” because that kid was always mocked.  However, I would tell you today that now is the time for the true believers to be the responsible ones in the growing darkness.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eHumble and obedientu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennLast week, we saw that we as true believers are to move with fervent love (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A8u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:8u003c/au003e).  Paul, we will see, touched more on the thought of the believer being a light bearer – a beacon of hope – to the Philippians.  What I want to do is show you what we are to do as true believers do in these twilight hours to help show others the way.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, just as Peter encouraged, we will see that Paul encouraged the believer to let the mind be in you which was also in Christ (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil.+2%3A5u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ePhil. 2:5u003c/au003e).  Paul reminds us that Christ was humble and that He was also “obedient to u003cemu003ethe point u003c/emu003eof death, even the death of the cross (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil.+2%3A8u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ePhil. 2:8u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, let us take a moment to consider this statement from Paul so that we can, again, understand the mind of Christ.  Christ’s humility:  let us consider that Christ, who was holy, came from eternity to this world of wickedness and u003cemu003esuffered u003c/emu003e(lived) in it.  Christ’s obedience:  Paul speaks to Christ being u003cemu003eobedient u003c/emu003eto the point of death to carry out His Father’s will.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe will of the Father is for mankind not to die in darkness!  In order for us not to to die in darkness, the Father gave His Son as a sacrifice.  Jesus, we should understand, did not come to the world to live but to die!  So, let us understand that Jesus u003cemu003edid not u003c/emu003ehave to give Himself for us!  Yet, Jesus being holy, humbled Himself in living in this world and He u003cemu003eobediently u003c/emu003ecarried out the will of His Father.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, as Christ gave Himself for us, the Lord desires that we u003cemu003elive u003c/emu003efor one another!  You see, there is a cross that we must bear in order to follow Him (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A23u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eLuke 9:23u003c/au003e).  In bearing our cross, we will u003cemu003eshare u003c/emu003ein Christ’s sufferings in which Peter said we should rejoice (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A13u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:13u003c/au003e)!  Have we not been commissioned with a task from Christ to carry out the will of the Lord?  God commanded us to share the good news so that u003cemu003eothers u003c/emu003ecan be saved!  So, who are we to not humble ourselves in the same manner that Christ humbled Himself?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWho are we not to humble ourselves, a creature u003cemu003eborn in and of sinu003c/emu003e?  Who are we to make the choice not to obediently carry out the Lord’s will? Are we u003cemu003ebetter u003c/emu003ethan Jesus, who was the light of the world?  You see, in these twilight hours, the world needs the light that resides in you now more than it ever has before!  Someone out there needs some hope in these twilight hours, let us not keep it from them by not giving ourselves!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eGive meaning to your salvationu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennPaul, we will see, encouraged the believer to live in a way that u003cemu003egives meaning u003c/emu003eto our salvation; we should work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil.+2%3A12u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ePhil. 2:12u003c/au003e).  From this encouragement from Paul, I would ask, are you giving meaning to the salvation you have received from the Lord?  I feel like this is a very important question for us to answer today — what are you doing with your salvation?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus encouraged us through His teaching to the Jews that we should u003cemu003elabor u003c/emu003e(work) for the food which endures to everlasting life (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A27u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 6:27u003c/au003e).  This labor, Jesus tells us, is to u003cemu003ebelieve u003c/emu003ein Him whom He (the Father) sent (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A29u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 6:29u003c/au003e).  As you have heard me say before, faith u003cemu003edoes not u003c/emu003esit still!  Faith is always in motion and doing good – something that is beneficial – for all people.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennPaul then encouraged us to give meaning to our salvation by doing good u003cemu003ewithoutu003c/emu003e complaining and disputing (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil.+2%3A14u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ePhil. 2:14u003c/au003e).  The Lord did not grumble or complain when He gave His Son to the world!  So, when we are giving meaning to our salvation, carrying out the task that has been commissioned to us by Christ, we should do it rejoicing in our soul!  Now, the question often arises as to u003cemu003ewhat good u003c/emu003eare we, the true believers, to be doing?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eThe good work of the Father’s willu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThroughout scripture, we are shown the labor – the good we do – begins with love; a love that should be fervent, as Peter said (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet.+4%3A8u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Pet. 4:8u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe beacon of hope that should emanate from the believer comes from the Holy Spirit, which we know dwells with us.  We are taught that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+5%3A44u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 5:44u003c/au003e).  This love is to be given to all people, u003cemu003eincludingu003c/emu003e our enemies, those who curse us, and those who u003cemu003ehate u003c/emu003eus.  Because God loves all people and resides in us through the inner dwelling of the Holy Spirit, this is the love that pours out from the heart of the true believer.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, our love is to be u003cemu003ecompassionate u003c/emu003eand u003cemu003emerciful.  u003c/emu003eWith this love, we are to be prayerful for those we love, and again, those who spitefully use us and even persecute us.  With this compassionate love, the believer ought to be merciful and forgiving, just as the Lord was merciful and forgiving of our wickedness.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThere are so many believers who, today, u003cemu003escoff u003c/emu003eat the idea of loving the groups of people that Jesus encouraged us to love.  It is a u003cemu003eterrible thingu003c/emu003e when the one who has professed to have faith in the Lord is u003cemu003eadding u003c/emu003eto the darkness!  I tell you, it is a terrible thing when one who has professed to believe in the Lord, finds the idea of loving all people to be ridiculous.  How can we show others the way – be a beacon of hope – when we are not acting out of that faith ourselves?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn the book of Isaiah, it is said, “If you u003cemu003eextend u003c/emu003eyour soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then u003cemu003eyour light shall dawn u003c/emu003ein the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is.+58%3A10u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eIs. 58:10u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, we should be caring for each other in these twilight hours!  In his letter, James encouraged us to visit orphans and widows (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jas.+1%3A27u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJas. 1:27u003c/au003e) and to also care for the sick (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jas.+5%3A13-14u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJas. 5:13-14u003c/au003e).  When Jesus spoke about His judgment of the nations, He spoke of how He would judge on how we cared for one another.  Did we care for the less fortunate – the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, and sick (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+25%3A31-46u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 25:31-46u003c/au003e)?nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3u003eBearing one another’s burdensu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAdmittedly, there are many believers that struggle with being a beacon of hope in this world.  For example, it can be difficult to love those that curse and hate you; it can be difficult to pray for those that spitefully use and persecute you.  Admittedly, it can be difficult carrying the weight of guiding others and showing others the way.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennI want to say something to the church today:  Our commission from Christ does not fall on just one single person.  Yes, through Christ we certainly have the strength to be able to bear loving those that curse and hate us.  Yes, through the strength of Christ we can be both prayerful and merciful to those that spitefully use and persecute us.  However, all of us as true believers should be taking part in this labor u003cemu003etogether u003c/emu003eso that not one person is bearing this labor by themselves.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTo the Corinthians, Paul said that by an equality, at this time, our abundance should supply the lack of others who partake in this great labor in the times they are lacking.  At other times, when we are lacking – when we are down and others are up good – their great abundance should supply us (2 Cor. 13:8).  So, in other words, we are to help one another in this mission; we should all bear this burden together (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal.+6%3A2u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eGal. 6:2u003c/au003e)!nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2u003eThat Beacon of Hopeu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn being that beacon of hope, we should be preaching God throughout the world, u003cemu003etogetheru003c/emu003e, because the Lord u003cemu003eis u003c/emu003eeveryone’s greatest hope and He needs to be known by all people.  We should preach about the Lord’s call – His call to stop wandering in the dark with no hope and u003cemu003eturn u003c/emu003eto the light of His salvation.  We should be preaching about God’s forgiveness and mercy!  Let us preach that the Lord is a refuge and a fortress; a comforter and great help in our time of need (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.+62%3A5-8u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ePs. 62:5-8u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennYou are that beacon of hope for the world to see – Jesus said this Himself about you!  From His mouth, Jesus said that u003cemu003eyouu003c/emu003e are the light of the world (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+5%3A14u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 5:14u003c/au003e).  Jesus likened us true believers to being like a city that sits on top of a hill whose light cannot be hidden.  During these twilight hours, when the sun has nearly set, our light should still be seen as the lights of a city brightly shining.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus encouraged, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+5%3A16u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 5:16u003c/au003e).”  Paul, again, in our key verse for today encouraged the believer to do their best to strive to be without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIt may seem like there is a lot of weight being placed on our shoulders, yet, I tell you that we can bear this weight.  We can bear this weight with the help of one another, but most importantly, we can bear it with the help of the Lord.  The Lord has not placed a task on us that we are unable to bear.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennEven though the world may be growing darker and darker, the light of the believer should only be growing stronger and stronger.  In this world of darkness, it seems that most of the examples that others are being shown to follow are the ways of the wicked; we know that these ways only lead to destruction.  Solomon said, however, that the path of the just u003cemu003eisu003c/emu003e like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov.+4%3A18u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eProv. 4:18u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe light of the just is u003cemu003elife and health u003c/emu003eto all who will follow the way.  So, I encourage you the same as Jesus encouraged – let your light shine.  Let us be that beacon of hope that show others the way in which they should go during these hours of looming darkness.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e