Are You One of the Few?

They are the remaining few as winter begins to approach. This year they managed to hang on a bit longer than usual. I am referring to what some of us call lightning bugs -- you know, that flying insect that has a flashing light at its rear end! In summer they have put on quite a display in the field across the road from our place as twilight fades into the darkness of night.

My day starts between 4:30 and 4:45 AM -- before retirement I got up at 4 AM each day -- now that I'm getting old I sleep in a little while! I do about an hour of devotions -- Bible reading guide I follow takes me through the Bible one time, a second time through the New Testament, plus roaming about in the Old Testament prophets in one year's time. There is a prayer time which continues as I leave about 6 AM for my 2 mile walk. In October it is dark in south central PA at 6 AM when we are on DST.

It was on those morning walks during our milder than usual October that I spotted some of them by the side of the road -- the firebugs, that is -- not many -- but they definitely attracted attention with their glowing light. They weren't flashing -- it was more of a steady glow in the grass by the edge of the road. I never failed to look at one as I passed by and that prodded me to remember some things.

First, Jesus said the human race would regress to the conditions which prevailed at the time of Noah before the flood -- wickedness and evil reigned as king and queen! He also said it would be like Sodom when Lot lived there for a time. See Luke 17:24-30.

Second, He said we are to be as lights in this world where evil is dominant and humans who are enslaved by it make up the vast majority of the population which is over 6 billion on this planet at the present time!

Third, as human history approaches its climax those few who display the truth, light, and love of Jesus Christ will be the targets of increased hostility and violence -- and why is this? Note a clear explanation in John 3:19-21:

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

So to any reading this -- as the world finds itself immersed in intense spiritual darkness, are you one of the few still shining brightly and revealing clearly that forgiveness, salvation, peace, and hope are found only in Jesus Christ Who is Savior and Lord?

Don't forget -- you may be the only light in someone's darkness!

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." --- Matthew 5:14-16

"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