TODAY'S DEVOTION ON THE BIBLE
In 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, the Apostle Paul writes: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
In this important passage of Scripture, the great missionary apostle explains to us why unbelievers cannot see the truth of the Gospel. It is because Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded their minds to the knowledge of the glory of God found in the face of His Son, Jesus Christ. Still, Paul charges us, in spite of the Satan induced spiritual blindness prevalent in this fallen world, to continue to preach Jesus Christ in hopes that God will speak His command, “Let there be light,” in the dark hearts of unbelievers.
Where have we heard this command of God elsewhere in Scripture? Is it not in Genesis 1:1-3? Here we read: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
According to these opening verses of the Bible, the earth was not only in darkness, but also empty and meaningless until the Spirit of God began to move upon it. Then, God spoke the command, “Let there be light!” Immediately, there was light and the earth was no longer in darkness or empty and meaningless.
To the man in spiritual darkness, the Word of God is empty and meaningless. However, when God’s Spirit begins to move in man’s heart and God speaks His command, “Let there be light,” in the heart of a man, that man’s heart is spiritually illuminated so that he can see “the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ” and “the glory of God in the face of Jesus.” No longer is the Bible empty and meaningless, but comprehensible and cherished.
Don Walton
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