SHADOWS OF DARKNESS

How many people live their lives in the darkness of their own shadows?

   How many people are afraid to come out of the darkness and into the light?
   How many are afraid to think for themselves, voice their own opinions, or speak their own minds?
   How many are afraid to conduct their own research for truth?
   How many are content to accept the thoughts and opinions of others?
   How many sit and watch as others do, but never participating?
   How many remain in the shadows because they worry about what others will think about them?
   How many wear the clothes and shoes that others wear, think the thoughts that others think, and speak the words that others speak?
      "For God hath not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  (1st Timothy 1: 7)
   While we will never know the psychological mind of every person, but perhaps we can agree that all of us share a degree of fear---fear of the unknown, fear of animals, fear of night, fear of people, fear of doubt, fear of shame, fear of embarrassment, fear of striking out in baseball, fear of not performing as well as others, and even the fear of being in the presence of others as if we are alone and on a stage with the spotlight upon us. Therefore we retreat to the comfort and safety in the darkness of our own shadows and hide.
   Thus, fear abides in our minds where we can also manufacture imaginary fear, at which time fear multiplies itself within our minds and we produce layers of fear upon fear and fear upon fear. 
   Fear is real, however, and it takes on a life of its own---to the point where we can even fear success because we can feel like we do not deserve it:  as if success belongs to others and that we should be no more than cheerleaders for them.
   Jesus said,
      "I am the light of the world:  he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  (John 8: 12)
   Perhaps it is fear, more than any other human characteristic, that prevents people from coming out of the darkness and to the light of Christ for salvation:  to totally trust in Him whom we cannot see with our eyes. 
      "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."  (John 1: 12)
      "Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  (Acts 4: 12)
   In conclusion, let me tell you that on the day of my salvation in Christ, fear engulfed my mind:  and I feared what others would say or think about me; and I feared coming out of the darkness of my own shadow to trust in Christ, to surrender myself to Him, whom I do not see with my eyes.  But after Christ saved me from my sin, fear fled from me and the darkness was gone.  Had I refused Christ that day, however, this story you are reading today would have never been written because I would have not been saved to live to write it.
   Fear grips, and it binds, and it can tie us up in knots, keeping us in the shadows of our own darkness, and living in a world of misery.  To trust in Christ, let go of the fear and it will flee from you.
   By trusting in Christ, your entire future will change; but you will never know that future until you trust in Him with all of your heart because you are on God's mind.
      "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you."  (Jeremiah 29:  11-12)
   And when you come out of the darkness and to the light of Christ, close the door behind you!