Does the World Know Him?

But somewhere among you stands a man you do not know....On the following day, John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, "Look, there is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is the man I meant when I said ' A man comes after me who is always in front of me, for he existed before I was born!'"  John 1:26,29,30  (J.B. Phillips N.T.)

Jesus was "....in the world and the world knew Him not."  (John 1:10)  He was the "true light" (John :9).  Those that recognize and receive Him walk in the light and those who reject Him continue to walk in darkness.

He is still in the world and much of the world still "knows Him not".  Why is it that much of the world is kept in darkness?  There is an enemy, the "ruler of darkness" (Ehesians 6:12)  who is competing for the souls of men.  Jesus is the only challenger that he cannot compete with and his efforts are concentrated on keeping men in darkness as concerning Jesus.

Someone estimated that there are more than 600 religions in the world.  Organizations like the "Freedom from Religion" group are concentrating on Jesus Christ and His Gospel with no thought of the other 600+ religions.  Why?

The Gospel is the only threat to the enemy.  A religious man who beieves that he can earn some choice position in his "Valhalla" by detonating an explosive device that mangles and kills innocent women and children is no threat to the devil.  They are on the same side?  "The thief (devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." (John 10:10)

Jesus came to bring, "Life and that abundantly" and the enemy doesn't want men to know that.

We have this great advantage, light is more powerful than darkness.  When the light comes in, the darkness has to go.  "The light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out."  (John 1:5, Phillips)  God has said that His work, "...shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."  (Isaiah 55:11)

The opposition will continue their efforts to frustrate the Gospel messae but no one can extinguish its light.

Gamaliel of old offered good advice, "But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."  (Acts 5:39)  We know that the gospel is of God and the devil knows it is of God and in the end the whole world will know.
  (Pastor Bill Cummins, June 17, 2013,  drbc@bresnan.net )