From My Perspective - - -

One of the recollections I have from my youth centers in World War II. During the war, there were regular Blackouts held in major cities of the United States. Air Raid Wardens were assigned neighborhoods where the effort was put forth to make certain everyone complied. The impression was how suddenly everything became darkened. The darkness was everywhere. Other precautions taken were Black Shades on windows were common place; the upper half of headlights were painted black. Drills were held in the public schools so the children would be led to places of shelter in case of an attack. The Darkness was a reality because safety was foremost.

There is this brief statement in Matthew 4:16-17 that speaks of the reality of darkness from a completely different perspective – the spiritual darkness that prevailed. Note the words: “the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This is similar to a declaration in Isaiah 59:8-12, “…The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men. We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us…”

There are many who are concerned over a report (CNSNews.com) on June 02, 2011 that is headlined: “Call to Ban the Bible Troubles Pakistan’s Embattled Christians.” The body of the report states: “Pakistani Christians reacted with dismay Thursday to campaign by radical Muslim clerics to have the Bible declared blasphemous and banned, but some said the community should respond calmly, without fear, trusting God to protect His word.Muslims should not blame Pakistan’s Christian minority for the actions of one misguided pastor in Florida (Terry Jones), said one activist, who also noted that even Mohammed, the 7th century Muslim prophet, had not outlawed the Bible.A group of Muslim clerics has asked the Supreme Court of Pakistan to determine that certain passages of the Bible, violates the country’s blasphemy laws because they depict some biblical figures – whom Muslims revere as “Islamic prophets” – as flawed or immoral.If the court does not make the declaration, the campaigners said, they would lodge an formal application for the Bible to be banned in its entirety…Aqeel said JUI-S should remember that, even during the times of Mohammed and the subsequent caliphs and other Muslim rulers, the Bible was not banned despite the fact that all of them knew that the Bible had different viewpoint on several things…”

If such a demand becomes law, what does that mean in terms of Darkness and Light? Psalm 119:105 states: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The Message translates verse 105, “By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.” In the spiritual application, removal of the Bible – God’s Holy Word – darkness is the inevitability. In the secular application, any nation that bans the Bible – especially the Gospel – is a nation that has lost its moral compass. Nothing is adequate as a substitute for God’s Word. II Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 1that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” We would do well to remember the refrain from an old Hymn: “The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble; I will plant my feet on its firm foundation, For the Bible stands.” Cherish and Treasure God’s Word!  Consider these things with me!