Discipline of Darkness!

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"God's great works are too marvellous to understand. He performs miracles without number" (Job 9:10)

In times of tribulation, we provoke God more by our words than our deeds. Because, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Mt 12:34). It is the "why" and "what" questions which disturb our equilibrium and make us pour out words of impatience while suffering. There will be calm in spite of storm if only we know "who" is in control. Job said, "When God comes near, I cannot see Him. When He moves on, I do not see Him go" (Job 9:11). He trusted God "who" was in control even though he could not see Him.

God is light and He is in the light. This is only one side of divine revelation. Solomon the wise had known the other side. He once prayed, "O Lord, You have said that You would live in thick darkness" (1 Ki 8:12). Glittering light and pompous show will there be where earthly kings are seated. It's different with the King of kings. "The Lord is King... Clouds and darkness surround Him" (Psa 97:1,2).

Christian life is comparable to a walk from the outer court to the innermost sanctuary through the holy place of the Tabernacle. There is sunlight in the outer court, candlelight in the inner court, but no light in the innermost court. One has to walk there only in faith and not by sight or any other sense (2 Cor 5:7). In Heavenly Jerusalem also there will be no lamplight or sunlight, but the Lord Himself will be the Light (Rev 22:5). When we walk in faith, quit asking questions, and quiet the turbulent mind, it will be Heaven on earth even if the times would be worst ever.

In our humanness we may cry out, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" But we should quickly commit ourselves to Him, saying, "Father, I entrust My spirit into Your hands!" (Mt 27:46; Lk 23:46). Dr. Raymond Edman (1900-1967), a longtime President of Wheaton College, calls this the "discipline of darkness," which is explained in Isaiah 50:10, "Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His servant? (Yet) who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and rely upon his God!"

Light of the World, illumine this darkened earth of Thine
Till everything that's human be filled with the divine,
Till every tongue and nation, from sin's dominion free
Rise in the new creation, which springs from love and Thee!
                                         (John S.B. Monsell, 1811-1875)

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