Light and Peace
by John Kimball, CCCC Director of Church Development
Christmas is a time when we celebrate the invasion of the Kingdom of Light into the dominion of darkness (Acts 26:18). Jesus, the Lord of Glory, took on human flesh, and with all the authority of Heaven behind Him, once-for-all broke through the shroud of Satan’s power to bring light and peace to God’s beloved humanity. It’s a done deal. And for everyone who receives Christ, it’s an irreversible reality.
The problem is that Satan is not taking this reality “sitting down.” For more than two millennia, the Enemy of God has been working overtime to try to stop the onslaught of Light. He has many tactics, but it seems that his most effective plan continues to be deception (2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 20:10). If he can somehow convince us (even as believers) of a lesser reality than the truth — if we buy into his deception — he can defeat our efforts, wreak unnecessary havoc, and generally mess us up.
Due to a recent health issue (and a reaction to some anesthesia), I have now experienced the depths of uncontrollable panic and depression for the first time in my life. As I write this, I’ve recovered, but there were two weeks where I was struggling to believe the truth about my identity in Christ, the freedom that is mine in Him and the wonderful calling He has placed upon my life. If I did not have the support structure of my family and friends (many within the CCCC), I don’t know what the outcome may have been. The deception and darkness were profound even though I am irrevocably a child of the Kingdom of Light!
What happened to me personally can also happen to a local church corporately. Things can seemingly be rolling along beautifully and then the congregation is hit with a tragedy, an explosion of conflict or some other issue with such an impact that their “world” begins to crumble. People become discouraged. Leaders do not understand how to address the challenges. And an unnecessary darkness is allowed to set in. Satan works hard to get such churches to respond with anything but Truth (including various aspects of religion, which without Truth are meaningless). Again, if not for the support structure and wisdom of those outside of the circumstances who can speak Truth to that church family, the outcome can be very bleak. Deception and darkness are tools that can impact a whole congregation.
Jesus’ kingdom is the Kingdom of Light. Paul writes to the Colossians,
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 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. (Colossians 1:9–12, NIV)
Those who are citizens of the Kingdom of Light in Christ themselves shine with his light. Jesus says,
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12, NIV).
And again,
You are the light of the world. A town build on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)
If we understand that God, Himself, is Light (and in Him there is absolutely no darkness at all), then we who are in Christ CAN walk in the light and experience the power, freedom and purity that is ours in Him (1 John 1:5–7). And there is nothing Satan can do to stop or squelch it!
What is it we hear each Advent? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1–5, NIV) For the believer, and just as much for the congregation that belongs to Jesus, the very rule and reign of Light in us cannot be overcome! The Enemy may use circumstances to deceive us into disbelieving that fact, but it is true nonetheless! We bear the very light of Christ, and that changes everything!
In this Christmas season, you or your church may be sensing the encroachment of darkness. It may manifest itself as confusion, conflict, discouragement, depression, panic, loss — the tactics are many and varied. But none of this changes the fact that you have already and forever been called out of the dominion of darkness into Jesus’ wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9)! Don’t give in to the deception. Instead, surround yourselves with those who, outside your circumstances, can speak Truth and Light into your life and situation. And if your congregation needs some specialized help, the CCCC Ministry of Church Development (along with the Ministry of Conference Care) are ready and equipped to step in. Just call the Conference Office at (651) 739-1474 for more information.
May God bless you with abundant LIGHT this Christmas!
