Darkness and Shadow of Death

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Zacharias’ Story

Zacharias was a righteous man who was blameless in the sight of God.  He was married to Elizabeth but the two were never able to have children.  They prayed, just like any other couple who believes in God, bringing their petition to the One they knew could answer that prayer.

The years passed until they were too old to have children, yet they still prayed.

He Couldn’t Believe

Zacharias was a priest and it was during his priestly service that he was chosen to enter the temple to burn incense while everyone else was outside praying.  During his time alone in the temple he saw the angel, Gabriel.

Gabriel told Zacharias the prayer he and his wife held so dear had been heard.  The two were going to have a son, even though they were both old.  And although Zacharias was a God-believing man, he couldn’t believe the words he was hearing.

Moments of Intimacy

Because Zacharias doubted what Gabriel was telling him, his ability to speak was taken away from him.  Not permanently, but until Gabriel’s words would be fulfilled.  And those words were fulfilled in their proper time.

Zacharias went home after his priestly service and was intimate with his wife.  I’m sure those moments of intimacy were filled with great joy knowing that God had given them a promise and He would not relent.

In time, Elizabeth became pregnant and had a son as promised.  Their story together is a beautiful one.  Zacharias and Elizabeth’s son was John the Baptist and he was easily one of the greatest men to ever live.

His Name is John

Zacharias was mute for close to a year if not longer.  The Bible doesn’t say how fast Elizabeth got pregnant and since pregnancies typically last 9 months, let’s just assume that by the time Zacharias finished his service and went home, then Elizabeth getting pregnant, a year had passed.  That is a long time to be unable to speak.

When the time came to name his son, according to tradition, his friends and family wanted to see him named after his father Zacharias.  Still mute and unable to speak, a tablet had to be given him to know what Zacharias wanted to call his son.

Taking the tablet, Zacharias wrote, “His name is John.”  Instantly, Zacharias was able to speak and being filled with the Holy Spirit, his first words were of praise and prophecy.  These are also his last recorded words.

To Guide our Feet

Zacharias said, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,

That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:67-79

Darkness and the Shadow of Death

I have read this passage many times over the last 40 years, yet today, the words “darkness and shadow of death” struck me.  We are living in darkness and the shadow of death right now.

Is the darkness too difficult to see?  If so, I believe that is because we have lived in this darkness for so long it is like being in a dark room when our eyes have adjusted to the darkness.  Without realizing it we have assumed the darkness is light, but it isn’t.

The world has changed dramatically in the last 63 years that I have seen.  If you are younger than me then you would have to choose to believe me when I say that although the world had its problems 60 years ago, society was more unified.  Back then everyone knew that a man was a man and a woman was a woman.  What has transpired to challenge that scientific belief among others?

To Give Light

I will attempt to give a brief definition of what darkness is.

Darkness is rebellion expressed through hard hearts.  The rebellion is against God by people, whether knowingly or unknowingly who want to live life apart from God.

As we live separately from God, the light that once shone brightly in Mankind’s hearts in the days of the Creation, has since become dim and dark with time.  It is in the darkness, where we live apart from God, that our hearts become hard.  Only by turning to Jesus Christ can the light in our hearts can be rekindled and shine brightly once more.  Zacharias testified of this light when he said, “the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.”

Darkness and Light

Have you heard that what is in our hearts is what comes out of our mouths?  This is an inescapable truth.  Here are some examples of darkness and light that we allow out of our hearts:

The list goes on.  How well do you know the difference between darkness and light as it pertains to the heart of Man?

The Light of Jesus Christ

The shadow of death refers to the presence of sin in the lives of Mankind which separates us from the eternal life that God has prepared for us.  Our path to heaven and an eternity with God was restored by Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross.  We must simply believe in Jesus Christ and what He has done.

The apostle, Paul said, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

It is time for you to believe in Jesus Christ. Receive the light of Jesus Christ today so that you may escape the death that is waiting in the shadows for each person who rejects His holy message!