A World in Darkness

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.” (Psa. 107:8-14)

They say that it is darkest before the dawn and I believe that is where we are today. There is a great darkness covering our Israel nations today that has completely engulfed us and we are floundering in this dark void. We have lost our moral compass and just as in a rudderless boat, we are about to sink. Last Sunday there was a huge Celebration of Life ceremony for a well-respected police officer that had been shot and killed in early November in Abbotsford, B.C., by a man who had stolen a car and taken off. Although shootings have increased in the Vancouver Lower Mainland, police shootings are very rare and this officer was an exceptional police officer. A few days later, when a car was found and reported to police, Corporal John Davidson was the first officer to arrive on site and the criminal immediately brandished a rifle and shot him. Police Chief Bob Rich said that at the time of this shooting a light had gone out in Abbotsford and there was a deep darkness in Abbotsford. He then said one firefighter immediately came to give John emergency care and a small light started to flicker, then another came and then another and as more first responders came to help John, more and more light came on. The good had come to fight the bad. His words were very moving and I found myself thinking of these words in the last few days. Unfortunately, Corporal John Davidson’s wound was too severe and he did pass away, but they caught the criminal shortly afterwards. Somehow, I could not help but think of our Israel nations and how they too are dying, as a great darkness has come over our lands. There are those who are trying to keep us alive and they bring flickers of light to our lands. Are we though going to die or are we going to be revived?

Last Sunday afternoon at our Bible study we had been studying and talking about Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. We were talking about how all the nations would gather together against our Israel lands and we were especially talking about the threat from the north and how that would probably come down through Canada (the land of unwalled villages) and be devastating to our country. Would we then at this time repent and pray and seek God’s help because we would be helpless? I thought of this little flicker of light that Police Chief Bob Rich had mentioned in the darkness. Could there be a flicker of light that would begin to grow and grow in our land(s) that would begin to bring us back to our Saviour and our God? What could start this light to grow brighter again? Could our churches finally start preaching more of the truth of God’s Word, could our eyes be opened to reveal who we are and the promises that God has made to us? In 2Chronicles 7:14 He has told us that if we will humble ourselves, and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways then He will heal our lands and forgive our sins. He will be our Protector. The full brightness of His presence with us will remove all the darkness from our lands and revive us. He will be our God and we will be His people.

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isa. 25:8-9)