First…

First…

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5)

First there was darkness…. Then God said, “Let there be light!” Thus, the first day of creation was completed, and the order of His work was established. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) God has ordained a divine order in which all things must take place. If want to the power of light to fill us, we must first let it subdue the lifelessness of the darkness within us.

There is an order of God we need to understand. Consider how Isaiah prophesied the Messiah must suffer first before His ultimate triumph:

Isaiah 53:10-11 (NIV)

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer; and though the Lord makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand. After He has suffered, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

My friends, there is a pattern we need to see! We, too, must first deny ourselves, pick up our crosses daily, and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23) Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Indeed, the suffering of the cross must come before the crown can be worn! And we must persevere in faith to receive it! As James affirmed: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)

Paul testified as well: “The Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to His own people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:23) Likewise, he taught: “If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. It is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.” (1 Corinthians 15:45-47, 49)

Have a Blessed Day!