TURNING MEN FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2021

When Jesus arrested Saul of Tarsus (Paul) on His way to damascus, He introduced Himself to him as Jesus, whom he was persecuting. Then He said to Paul, "I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light." This was Paul's witness before King Agrippa! Paul knew the purpose for which he was delivered. It was to favour God's righteous cause and accomplish His purpose on earth.

Reference: Acts 26:17-18 New King James Version (NKJV) "I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."

Beloved, God doesn't save or deliver us for nothing. In other words, Christ did not die to save us just for the sake of saving us to escape eternal damnation. There is a greater purpose that accompanies our salvation; we are delivered to cooperate with God in delivering others. Paul declared that he was sent to open the eyes of the lost, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus.

The Bible says, "And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:12-13 NIV). To be forthright, our responsibility is not too much for God to ask for. One of the responses required of us is quality praise and thanksgiving, because He did everything for us (see also Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV). First He qualified us to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the Kingdom of light by predetermined plan.

By predetermined plan, I mean that God chose and qualified us first before He rescued us from the domain of darkness and then transferred us to into His Kingdom. This is exactly what Colossians 1:12-13 is communicating. Now what is our greater response to what God has done for us? The Bible says, "But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people's sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]."

Our response is well defined in the above Scripture. We have been commissioned to reconcile the world to God (see Mark 16:15 ESV). To reconcile is to "restore friendly relations between." It is the Greek word, "katallassó", which is to change men from enmity to friendship with God. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. As Christ's representatives, we plead with sinners, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God" (see 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 AMP).

Beloved, God always longs to put the lost sinners square with Himself through Christ, giving them a fresh start by offering them forgiveness of sins. And in the redemptive sense, He has given us, the saints, the task of telling everyone what Christ did for them on the cross. As Christ's representatives on earth, God uses us to persuade men and women to repent of their sins and embrace His love - by making them right before Him through faith in Christ. Therefore, anytime we share the Gospel, we are speaking for Christ Himself and drawing men's attention and hearts to Him, so they can become friends with God and belong to His everlasting Kingdom. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - John 3:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 5:1-11; John 5:24; Romans 10:9-10; Colossians 1:19-20.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for my salvation and my reconciliation with you in view of the death and resurrection of Christ, the risen and exalted Saviour. By the continued agency of the Holy Spirit, my relationship with God is strengthened daily and I'm rooted and grounded in Christ to carry out the ministry of reconciliation, thereby offering your peace to all mankind, and ensuring that they access their inheritance and privileges among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ. I'm forever grateful that I'm divinely commissioned and sent to preach the good news as Christ's ambassador and in His stead in Jesus' Name, Amen!