Featured Can Light and Darkness co-exist?

Dwell in darkness or brush up against darkness?

For sure those who "dwell" in darkness are lost. They are lovers of darkness. That's all they know.

 

They must. or else we would either see nothing but light or nothing at all.

 

THAT needs clarification?
The reason we can see objects is because they reflect differing amounts of light; and where there are differing amounts of light, at different points in our range of vision less light is reflected-- which means there is some darkness, the absence of light, mixed in. All light or all darkness is everything [light] or nothing [darkness].

 

Darkness is the absence of light.
If you fit black-out curtains in your bedroom, but leave a tiny gap. you can see a beam of sunlight flooding in. But if you were to stand outside, you would not see the darkness flooding out.

Jesus is the Light of the world. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. Nor is it possible that it should.

So darkness is not the opposite of light. It is the absence of light. Christ dispels the darkness.

That's probably not the least bit relevant, but I thought I'd say it anyway.

 

What is the context of this person who says believers can be both light and darkness?

 

A sheep can wander away and can commit an atrocious act of sin, but will return to the fold and live a lifestyle of repentance. Many a sheep has done just that and their sorrow and lament for this sin is felt deeply in their heart. They are in a state of contrition.

Hogs and dogs are different, they appear to be sheep but then they 'return' to their wallowing and vomit respectively.

And then there are goats.

 

Because of age, to many, still growing scars and who knows what else my memory isn't what it once was but in the scriptures I recall three times God warning us not to add nor to omit a singtle word to His Word. The two addresses I recall are Duet. 4:2 and at the tail end of The Revelation 22.

From shortly after my Salvation experience I have been impressed with God's ability to, noticeably, highlight any matter of His choosing and how He did that so it would never be lost for as long as God keeps His Word true.

I pray all in these forums pay attention to the leading of the Holy Spirit when reading their copies of the Bible but, and I find this a large exception, but when repeats a thought or a command I pray that all seeking the indwelling are seeing the one or two repeats as highlighting for the purpose of marking for importance.\

I feel, on the personal level this should stretch into our personal hermeneutics of scripture and in my case does.

When we read our Bibles, much of what is there is word for word truth and some is natural point of truth to Spiritual Point of Truth. These points, for my own understanding have required a good deal of personal submission, prayer and Holy Spirit led Bible Study.

This point about Light and/or the lack thereof by all Lost Men is viewed, only, from a Natural View Point y the Lost and I pray this is true, also, of many Spiritually Immature Children of God.

We learn, as we grow in the Faith, that when we are Saved, Marked Out or Indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, there can remain no darkness, we cannot be indwelt by God and by Satan/evil at the same time and there is the point the writer of the OP was making.

The Spiritual Realm is, in no fashion, comparable with the Natural Realm, the realm created solely for man to run his natural course in.

Jesus used Natural Light to illustrate a spiritua point in much the same fashion as did he with the parable of the Wedding Feast found in Matthew 22. And like every lesson Jesus taught us this is for our edifacation and understanding of the Spiritual Lessons.

Spiritulaly, Light equals zero Darkness.

 

Perhaps the darkness flees, but it never leaves. It hides out in the corners, under the table, in the "less lit" areas.

The Scriptural principle is that the believer must always be aware that the area lit is clean and not leave that unclean hidden and dirty in the shadows of living.

Both Matthew and Luke record our Lord responding to the religious righteous remarking that they were in effect busy bussing the table top, and left the floor filthy (Luke 11, Matt. 23). Foundational truth maters as much as the filigree.

The believer is not just given the light, but also must learn the use of the light. By practice and experiential living, the believe will desire that the light be directed to shine into even the hidden areas to allow cleaning (Psalm 139).

A great waste of time is made both by believers and unbelievers who clean the darkness while in the darkness. For example, a believer may certainly have that "light of life," but either knowingly limit the light by preferring living in this world over possible martyrdom (Damus, 2 Timothy 4), or be immature in the walk and unable to bear the magnitude of the light (1 Cor. 3)

Salvation brings light. No doubt.

Maturity brings the ability to utilize the light, understand the light, and be joyful that the light is not merely a shining, but a pointer of direction, a stop signal, a crossing warning, a hazard warning, a lamp to light the path, a special illumination that even those of the world and worldly cannot ignore.

There are many believers who desire to have their light and hang their light out as that great chandelier in the concert hall dangling from the ceiling in which many will look upon with a sense of awe. They would bask in the praise of those around them, and have a sense of loss or uncomfortableness if not the center of attention.

Such have their place, but they are not nearly as important as they or others would consider.

Rather, the most important light to have is that wee little night light that seems so unimpressive, and not expensive, yet keeps one from stumbling in the dark. (taken from Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.)

"The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple." Psalms 119:130

 

Put your hand to the plow and look back and you will understand about darkness.

 

Double mindedness. Do you think that the words of Jesus are meaning less?

 

Revelation 2
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

In this passage Jesus says "my servants" had been seduced and were committing fornication and a form of idolatry.

So, darkness was not only IN the church but being committed BY the servants of God.

HankD