“STILL IN DARKNESS!”

1 John 2:8-11                                             (ESV)

“8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in HIM and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the TRUE LIGHT is already shining.

9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is "STILL IN DARKNESS".

10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

A friend recently told me “I am proud and honored to call you my brother in Christ”!  Another friend agreed with them.  I've never been known to be one who expressed my gratitude with much gracefulness, so I replied "I love you both, but this is getting a little sappy!" Without a doubt, I know both of my friends love me, and they don't have to tell me for me to know that, even though I am FAR FROM a perfect friend of either of them.  However, knowing that you are loved gives you peaceful feeling that is hard to explain but very needed at times.  

The hurt that others cause us to experience can last for a long time.  The hurt that a loved one has done toward them can be almost insurmountable!  Don't get me wrong, ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, but anyone who is "STILL IN DARKNESS" cannot SEE their shortcomings, and most of the time don't want to SEE them.  It's as if something is happening right in front of their eyes, but they are almost obvious to their surroundings.  

We were not any different, before we were transformed by JESUS.  While HE has made us to SEE things of the SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 2:14), they are still folly to them!  It is so easy to blame and criticize others, but we used to have faulty eyesight as well before JESUS opened our eyes.  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to SEE that a person can only SEE what has been revealed to them by YOU!  Until they SEE that they need YOU, they are "STILL IN DARKNESS"!  Help me become more patient and longsuffering and realize that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE with YOU, and while they are "STILL IN DARKNESS", YOU can enlighten them in the twinkling of an eye!!!