Rescued from the kingdom of darkness

Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)

For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

The word “darkness” is a frightening term.  The phrase “kingdom of darkness” is even more frightening.  Darkness connotes all kinds of scary thoughts---devils, demons, bogeymen, ghosts, whatever is viewed as evil.  Negative emotions such as fear, worry, loneliness, depression, heartache, and discouragement also seem to be prominent when it is dark.  Murder mysteries and scary movies always seem to have the scariest moments when it is dark. 

The kingdom of darkness, biblically, refers to Satan and his demonic rule.  Eph 6:12 says that we wrestle against “the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness……”  Right after Jesus made His famous John 3:16 quote, He said in verse 19 that even though His light has come into the world, “men still love the darkness for their deeds were evil”. 

God rescues people who desire to escape the kingdom of darkness.  Perhaps you can clearly remember your experience in the kingdom of darkness and your decision to escape it.  Or maybe you are still in it.  You confessed your need for salvation through God’s provision, Jesus Christ, believing that He died on the cross for your sins.  Jesus’ sacrificial death was God’s purchase of your freedom and His initiative to enable you to be forgiven of your sins.  Pastor Jim quoted Gal 1:4 that says, “ Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sins”. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue.

As a child of light rather than a child of darkness you will never stumble again (John 11:9-10).  The word “stumble” that Jesus used can mean “be induced to sin”.  As a child of light, you hate sin as the Lord hates sin.  You are human so you will continue to sin, but you will always regret your sin and ask for forgiveness every day.  A life free from guilt, free from enslavement to sin and free to choose what is right in God’s sight results from your decision to be saved out of the kingdom of darkness by choosing the kingdom of light, the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Think of this verse the next time you are driving in your car and you drive directly into the sunlight.  What does your windshield look like?  It looked fine and clear while driving in relative darkness, but the light reveals how dirty and unclear it really is.  That is how a life of darkness appears to God.  It may look fine to you, but not when it is exposed to the clear light of God.  Choose the kingdom of light and escape the enslavement of the kingdom of darkness. 

“There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of a single candle”.  The light is greater and more powerful than the darkness (I John 4:4).