WALKING IN THE LIGHT by David Wilkerson

"Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you” (John 12:35). Darkness here means "spiritual blindness, confusion, loss of clarity, gloom.” At first,I wondered, "Darkness on those who love Jesus? How could such darkness come upon God’s people?”

I readily admit, I personally have been flooded with the light of Jesus. In my more than fifty years of ministry, I’ve witnessed the Lord’s power to raise the spiritually dead. I’ve seen many walk out of the tombs of drug addiction and alcoholism. My book The Cross and the Switchblade was all about God’s miracle-working power. I’ve had a lifetime of watching the walking dead come alive through His resurrecting power.

I’ve seen many other rays of light””from the life-giving names of God, to His New Covenant promises, to the fulfillment of His prophecies. In a sense, I’ve witnessed everything John 12 describes and much more. Indeed, God has revealed to His people today what the eyes of those Jews couldn’t see. We know not just from Scripture but by experience that God has prepared great things for those who love Him. We’ve been given a New Testament to instruct us in this and we’ve been given the Holy Spirit to teach us. Likewise, we have "better promises,” so we can become partakers of His divine nature.

We’ve also been given anointed teachers, pastors, evangelists and prophets to flood our hearts and minds with the light. They immerse us in truth, fill us with glorious promises, and remind us of God’s faithfulness to deliver us time after time. I ask you, with all these wonderful blessings, how could we possibly have clouds of darkness over us?

Usually, when we think of spiritual darkness, we think of atheists. Or we think of jaded, sin-satiated sinners groping about in sorrow and emptiness. But that isn’t the kind of darkness Jesus describes here in John 12. No, this darkness is a cloud of confusion, a spiritual blindness, indecision, a gloom of spirit and mind””and it comes upon believers.

When those times come, when we’re besieged by temptation or despair, we’re to say with confidence, "You’ve delivered Your servants supernaturally throughout history. Do it again and let Your strength be made perfect in my weakness.”

Usually, when we think of spiritual darkness, we think of atheists. Or we think of jaded, sin-satiated sinners groping about in sorrow and emptiness. But that isn’t the kind of darkness Jesus describes here in John 12. No, this darkness is a cloud of confusion, a spiritual blindness, indecision, a gloom of spirit and mind””and it comes upon believers.

As usual, David is very poignant in his observations. We have to guard against this "darkness" that contaminates our souls. His light is love and the Word is our most faithful barometer of the light and love we possess.

1 John 2:9-11

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

I think David Wilkerson is right on the money when he says

"Usually, when we think of spiritual darkness, we think of atheists. Or we think of jaded, sin-satiated sinners groping about in sorrow and emptiness. But that isn’t the kind of darkness Jesus describes here in John 12. No, this darkness is a cloud of confusion, a spiritual blindness, indecision, a gloom of spirit and mind””and it comes upon believers."

We have all met along the way, Christians who swing one way then another then back again. They are confused and spiritually blind which leads to indecision and have a spirit of gloominess about them. They are devoid of the life of Christ therefore they try and focus on the truth of Christ but somehow lose their way in the darkness that comes from not having those flowing waters of life. Yet, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, He is all of these things to His children. Religious men can try and imitate the way and the Truth, but can never reproduce the life and the joy that comes by knowing God intimately. The scripture that comes to mind for me from chapter 12 which David quotes is ............

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
(Joh 12:42-43)

Many are afraid to confess the truth because they love their positions and the praise of men more than they love God, this brings darkness and confusion and indecisivness. They are like waves tossed upon the water by the winds of this world...............bro Frank