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The Kingdom of Light and the Power of Darkness - Luke 10
The Kingdom of Light and the Power of Darkness - Luke 10
Jesus sent out his commissioned followers to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 10:9). Upon their return Jesus commented that with their preaching He “saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (vs. 18). In this we see the struggle of two kingdoms. There is the kingdom of darkness ruled by the evil one (yet, such ‘rule’ is only by the permission of God). To this kingdom belong those who walk after Satan (Eph. 2:1-2). There is also the kingdom of God and light. This one is ruled over by God and is inhabited by those who walk after the Spirit.
The kingdom of darkness is ‘easy to get into’ as it entails the simple qualification of sin. With the entrance of such sin into their lives, people come under the domain of darkness (Col. 1:13) and servants of sin unto death (Rom. 6:16).
Into this domain of darkness and sin entered the righteous son of God. He is the light of the world (John 12:46), the light that lighteth everyman (John 1:9). Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God and instructing people to repent of their sins (Mark 1:14-15). He not only offered people forgiveness of such sin, but He died for us and is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Paul said that he was sent by God "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18). As the gospel was believed and obeyed, the people were “transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…” (Col. 1:13). Christians are now ‘children of light’ that walk in the light (Eph. 5:8; 1John 1:8-9).
The kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light can not co-exist in peace. They are opposed to each other and forever are at war. As surely as turning on a light in a dark room will overcome darkness, so the kingdom of God will overcome the power of darkness. Yet, God allows each of us to choose whom and what we will serve. We will SERVE something; hence the question is not IF but WHAT. If we chose sin, we become the servants of sin and will die (Rom. 6:16-18). Many people hate the light, refuse to come to the light, and willfully chose to walk in darkness (evil and sin). “...this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:19-20).
Jesus has made it possible for each to become children of light, children of God, and to be victorious over sin. If you are a child of light, then you need to walk in the light. If you are under the power of darkness, Jesus offers the freedom of forgiveness and the joy of life with God. As the old hymns asks: "What will it be, oh what will it be, What will your answer be?”
Hugh DeLong
