The Difference Between Daylight And Darkness

Neal Pollard

    God can turn the darkest night into the brightest morning.  He is able.  He is willing.  Yet, for Him to do that, we have to do our part.  Turning night into day requires:

    Waking Up!  Whether the slumber is from sin, sorrow, or self-pity, the call is the same:  "Awake, sleeper" (Eph. 5:14a, NAS).  The church at Sardis was sound...asleep!  Twice, Jesus tells them to "wake up!" (Rev. 3:2,3).  He connects spiritual alertness to repentance, spiritual strength, and completeness, all indicators of spiritual consciousness.  Are you unaware of God's power, love, concern, and omnipresence?  Wake up.  As children of the day, don't sleep as children of darkness do (cf. 1 Thes. 5:5-8).

    Opening Our Eyes!  David asked the Lord to open his eyes so that he could see the wonderful things in His Word (Ps. 119:17).  Isn't it interesting that this same psalm later likens that Word to a lamp and light (105)?  We see what we want to see.  We should want to see, like those Greek proselytes, Jesus (cf. Jn. 12:21).  Jesus calls Himself the light of the world (Jn. 8:12).  Until you turn in utter dependence to God, you will remain lost and lonely in the pitch darkness of isolation!  When you are troubled, hurt, fearful, or riddled with guilt, on what are you focusing?  Open your eyes to Heavenly Sunlight.  See the Son!   

    Get Up!  What a waste of daylight to wake up, then stay down.  Wasn't that the problem with Judah in Jeremiah's day?  The people had fallen and would not get back up (cf. 8:4ff).  In the story of the Prodigal son, his transformation was not complete when he "came to himself" (woke up?).  He had to "get up" and get moving in the right direction (Lk. 15:18).  What good is wasted light?  Likewise, what good does it do to be aware of God and the strength He gives (Ph. 4:13) if we are not willing to take advantage of those blessings? 

    Psalm 30:5 declares, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  In an "end time" parable, Jesus warns, "If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping" (Mk. 13:36).  We are on a journey toward the "land of fadeless day."  In heaven there is only one eternal day, while hell is endless night.  Is it dark in your life?  Go toward the Son!