THE GOSPEL LIGHT (II Corinthians 4:1-6)
Jon Krakauer tells of his harrowing experience
climbing Mt. Everest in "Into Thin Air." On May 10, 1996, Krakauer
made it to the top. He paused for a few minutes before heading down, his
muscles exhausted, his limbs frozen, and his brain oxygen-deprived. As he
descended, some clouds drifted up and enveloped him. Soon, thunder, lightning,
and a snowstorm threatened to disorient him, but he was close enough to base
camp number 4 to get to the sheltering tents before the storm's full force hit.
Four climbers arrived at the summit shortly before Jon
and did not have time to get to the camp before dark. The storm caused them to
lose their way. Exhausted and lost, they lay down to wait out the night. When
they awoke in the morning, they found they had lain down just one step from the
4,000-foot precipice of the South Wall. They had slept the night on the edge of
a cliff in the middle of a snowstorm.
Our culture can disorient us with the winds of
relativism, secularism, nihilism, and the darkness of unbelief. Many people are
unaware that they sleep on the edge of disaster. The Gospel light reveals our
position and points the way to safety." In chapter 3, after explaining the
glory of the New Covenant, the Apostle Paul challenged us to live as New
Covenant People.
In II Corinthians 4:1-6, the apostle Paul shows us
what believers have been entrusted with and how to share it with others. The
reason for people's blindness and their unawareness of the impending disaster.
He also explains how God enlightens our hearts to know God's glory.
I.
The awareness and the right way of sharing the new way with others.
Vs. 1-2, "Therefore, since God in his
mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds
and underhanded methods. Vs. 2, "We don't try to trick anyone or distort
the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know
this."
Verse one begins with the word,
"Therefore," which means "for that reason." Earlier, Paul
noted how God enabled us to be the ministers or servants of his New Covenant.
Verses 1-2 show us four ways to serve. First, never give
up. We remain steadfast amid hardships and persecution. We never give
up on doing good. Galatians 6:9, So let's not get tired of doing what is good.
At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."
Secondly, we serve by "rejecting
all shameful deeds and underhanded methods." Which means turning
away from or repenting of any sinful and shameful acts. God is not looking for
any ministers but holy ministers. The New Covenant ministry calls for righteous
living.
How about the phrase "underhanded methods"?
It refers to secret immoralities, hypocrisies, and sins hidden deep in the
darkness of one's life. Remember, in our old life, we lived the way we liked,
but as the new covenant ministers, we please God and do His will.
Thirdly, as the new
covenant servants, we don't trick anyone or distort or tamper with God's
word. During Paul's time, certain false prophets and teachers deceived
believers and tampered with God's word. Paul wanted the Corinthians believers
to live differently. How about today, do we find false teachers and prophets in
our churches? Yes, plenty of them.
We see a distortion of God's word in one Christian
movement called the Word
of Faith. At the heart of the Word of Faith movement is the belief in the
"force of faith." It is believed words can be used to manipulate
faith and thus actually create what they believe Scripture promises (health and
wealth). This movement deceives countless people, causing them to grasp a way
of life and faith that is not biblical."[1] One of the leaders of such
a movement recently apologized for getting it wrong about tithing in the Bible.
How do we counter this and other such cultish movements? By reading, understanding,
and living by the principles of the Bible daily.
Fourthly, we serve by
telling the truth before God. In a world filled with alternative facts,
dishonesty, and lying, the new covenant ministers must endeavor to make the
truth of God's word plain to people in the situations or circumstances they
find themselves in.
We don't manipulate to make God's word effective but
present it straightforwardly and let the Holy Spirit do His work. After laying
out these four foundational principles of the ministry of the New Covenant,
Paul draws our attention to what is going on in the lives of unbelievers.
II.
Satan: The god of this world (Vs. 3-4)
Have you wondered why some people remain unsaved
despite repeatedly hearing the Gospel, seeing many miracles, and even attending
Church? What hinders them from acknowledging Christ as the Messiah and the son
of God? Paul has some answers.
Vs. 3-4, "If the Good News we preach is hidden
behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is
the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They
are unable to see the glorious Light of the Good News. They don't understand
this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."
Whenever the Good News is preached, it doesn't seem to
impact people. Why? Unless God the Father draws them to Christ, no one will get
saved. John 6:44, "For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me
draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up."
In Ephesians 2:1-2, Paul explains who is at work in
the lives of unbelievers. "You used to live in sin, just like the rest of
the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He
is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God."
Paul refers to the devil as the " prince of the power
of the air." Satan, the god of this world, is the biggest hindrance to
people getting saved. How does Satan blind the minds of unbelievers? Through
Mass Media (television,
internet, radio, and magazines) and movies.
Satan creates a Godless global culture using these
tools. Satan deceives many to pursue the world's mindset, which is expressed by
the majority of people's ideals, opinions, goals, and views. It encompasses the
world's philosophies, education, entertainment, and economy.
Satan blinds men and women to God's truth through the
world system that he has created, void of God. What happens when God is not at
the center of human life or society? Man is left to his own schemes and pursues
a system of the world that is unsustainable and collapsing rapidly. How can we
heal the blindness caused by Satan and preserve a morally declining society?
III
The Gospel Light (Vs.5-6)
Vs.
5-6, "For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and
ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light
shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to
give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
The only way we overcome the culture of the beast and the grip of Satan is
through the Gospel Light of Jesus Christ, who said I am the Light of the world.
However thick the darkness and
powerful the acts of Satan in the world might be, they cannot withstand the
Gospel light. The Prophet Isaiah prophesized, saying, "that time of darkness
and despair will not go on forever. The people who walk in darkness will see a
great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine."
Isaiah 9:1-2.
John talked about the One who is the true Light who
gives Light to everyone, was coming into the world." (John 1:9). The
apostles preached about that Gospel light, Jesus Christ.
We need to turn on the Gospel Light for darkness to
flee. We have witnessed it in our lives, how Christ has illuminated our
darkened minds and hearts. Now, as the servants of the New Covenant, let us turn
on the Gospel light. When people come to Jesus, the Light of the world, the
darkness will flee, giving them a chance to become children of the Light.
