A Call to Living Lightly

            Last week I shared some thoughts on the “brokenness” of mankind.  This topic always produces a variety of responses.  My statements are based on Biblical theology, so for someone who believes that we are no more than beasts or animals, such a discussion will not equate.  Current humanistic evolutionary assumptions assert that we have evolved from primitive life forms.  Their opinion is that we are no more than cosmic accidents.  For those who hold this view, it is absurd to speak about the soul or spirit of an individual.  In contrast to this godless view, the Bible speaks about mankind being made special.  God’s own explanation (in Genesis 1) is that He made us as creatures who have a soul.  We are made to have fellowship with God.

            As we dig a little deeper into this idea, we must understand that men and women are made or designed to worship.  It is in our DNA; we are “wired” to worship.  Many in today’s world will scoff at this notion.  They will argue that they do not worship anything. The truth, however, is that we all worship something.  We all devote our lives to some goal, some cause, or some agenda, and that is worship whether or not we like to admit it.  The Bible clearly teaches that whatever we devote ourselves to, that is what we worship.  Whatever grabs the highest affection of our hearts is what we worship.

            So, God made mankind to have fellowship with Himself.  God made us to worship Him.  However, when sin entered this world, our fellowship with God was broken. God warned Adam and Eve that if they disobeyed Him they would die, and when they sinned, they died spiritually.  This is where our worship/fellowship problem comes into play.  God knew that a “broken” mankind needed help. God was not content for His precious creation (mankind) to remain broken.  God has always had a plan for “fixing” us.  This plan is seen and realized in the saving and redeeming work of Jesus.

            If we understand the metaphor that we are living in darkness (spiritual darkness), then we can understand the words of Jesus when He says that He is the “light of the world.”  Jesus came to save lost mankind.  He came to point us to God.  The world today does not know or understand that it is in great need spiritually.  As a matter of fact, this world does not know that there is a spiritual war being waged all around us. I am not speaking specifically of the evil deeds and tragedies that are taking place all around us.  These are symptoms of a deeper problem.  There is a war that is being waged for the very soul of mankind. This truth is spoken of in great detail in the Bible.  The Bible tells us that Satan (and his army of fallen angels) is determined to keep mankind in spiritual darkness.  The effects of this dark living and dark thinking are seen in the depravity of society. We will build upon this thought next week.  In the meantime, the Bible is very clear that we would do well to embrace the “light” that God offers us.  Keep looking up!