DARKNESS IN CHURCHES TODAY
By W. G. Guy
Matthew 25:8-13 – And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The above passage is from the parable of the Ten Virgins who knew that the bridegroom was coming and went out to meet him. However their wait was prolonged and half of them allowed their lamps to go out since they did not have enough oil to keep them lighted during the waiting period for the bridegroom’s arrival. They had to go out to get more oil, but while they were searching the bridegroom came at a time unexpected and they missed him. When the five foolish ones returned and sought entry they were rejected – ALL BECAUSE THEIR LIGHT WENT OUT! Their light went out because they had no oil; oil represents the Holy Spirit or God’s presence in and with them.
This parable may prophetically represent half of the church as it exists today in that they no longer have the light of Jesus Christ shinning in them or out from them. What happens when the light goes out? Darkness takes over, because darkness is the absence of light. We are obviously referring to spiritual light which is the revelation of Christ in those who are His believers and followers.
Darkness is representative of the depravity of sinful man:
John 1:4-5 – In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 3:19-20 – And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 12:46 – I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Acts 26:18 – (Regarding the ministry of the apostle Paul)… to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
1 John 1:6-7 – If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
It appears that nearly half of the modern day church is more in love with the things of the world than the things of the kingdom of God. Thus they are walking in darkness due to their materialism and fleshly lusts, and the love of God is not in their hearts. It’s God’s love in true believers that is the light of Christ and that produces the fruit that He is looking for.
1 John 2:15-16 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what isthat good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We can also see what Jesus identified to the apostle John as the condition of the church of Laodicea which he said made Him sick enough to vomit (spue) them out of His mouth.
Revelation 3:15-17 – I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Such is the state of approximately half of what is called church today as the foolish half have accepted and conformed to the things of the world and the flesh, and fail to walk in the light of the righteousness of Christ. The world’s fleshly lusts are evident in much of the world’s churches today where we see them embracing homosexuality, adultery, idolatry and false worship of men and material things, drugs and alcohol, pornography, gambling, and all manner of sensual involvements and sex sins, and false doctrines of man and demons.
These foolish churches did the same thing that ancient Israel did as recorded in the first chapter of the Book of Judges; they adopted the behavior and character of the godless and pagan populations that lived among them. So these foolish churches are doing the same today by forsaking godliness, holiness and righteousness and, instead conforming to the worldly nature of the unbelievers they live with and observe on TV and in the movies, etc.
To these foolish churches was the warning given through the apostle Paul:
Romans 13:11-14 – And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our
salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Jesus used the parable of the ten virgins as an analogy of His coming again. More warnings are stated in scripture regarding this backsliding portion of the church:
1 Timothy 4:1 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Please note that the warning is eternally serious: they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and, as the bridegroom said to the five foolish virgins, “I know you not”, which means they did not qualify to enter in to the celebration. Be advised that those who do not have the light of Jesus Christ in them have no hope of eternity with Him in His Kingdom. Light has no fellowship with darkness, and they continue to walk in darkness of their sins!
This warning is to that half of the church that no longer has the light of the knowledge of the glory of God through Jesus Christ in them. All ten virgins knew that the bridegroom was coming, they just didn’t know when. Nevertheless, they were all anticipating meeting him and going into the celebration. Half of them didn’t make it in. This may also represent that the foolish half knew about him, but didn’t really know him personally. Jesus mentioned this when He said narrow is the way and few that enter in:
Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
This is true of so many today that say they are Christians and even go to church: they know about Him, but they do not personally KNOW HIM. Remember what the bridegroom said to those foolish ones, “I know you not”. A personal, life changing experience with Jesus Christ is necessary for a new life and for that light to shine within each and every true believer in Christ. This light and life is a free gift as it was fully paid for by Jesus Christ on the cross for every human soul on all the earth. There is no reason for anyone not to be able to enter into the celebration when the anticipated bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, comes to receive those who have accepted Him as Savior and Lord.
Unfortunately, even many of the pastors and preachers in these churches do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, even though they know about Him, and preach their version of the gospel. Jesus had this to say about them:
Matthew 7:21-23 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity, (or doing your own thing).
(Note: doing the will of the Father in heaven is to accept and acknowledge Jesus Christ personally, conform to His image and walk in obedience to His pathways and direction. He also requires that pastors and preachers to build up the saints His way, and not in the ways of man and the world.)
The consequences of not having His glorious light within them results in eternal darkness. When the time comes for you to stand before the judgment seat of the Lord will you hear, “Well done good and faithful servant”, or will you hear, “I never knew you, depart from me”? Too many in these churches today seem to prefer the darkness instead of the true and eternal light of Christ. How about you?
Matthew 7:20 – Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
