The Fewer the Lights,
The Brighter the Stars
by Dick York - July/August 2007

Had we reached the day in which we live more suddenly, we might be less casual about the abnormalities that persist within our society.

But we live with the perspective of those who have been acclimated to each regressive stage that has brought us gradually to a place in history that clearly resembles what Paul described as perilous times. Many recognize this of course, but it is hard to be shocked by something one has become used to and even identified with. We look around us and see a world ready for judgment; we look in the Word and see the glorious hope of a church that is in the world, but not of it. It makes us wonder, Lord, as part of the church, should I not feel differently than I do? Shouldn’t I feel less attached to all that is not eternal, is perishing and is soon to pass away? It seems that I should have a sense of concern for people that I know are about to perish. I know that I read words in Ezekiel’s prophecy that seem to be applicable to us today:
“Her priests have violated my law, and profaned my holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord, when the Lord hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.” 1
The conviction grows that today’s “norm” is not normal. Things will soon change. God is once again looking for those who will make up the hedge and will stand in the gap before Him lest He should pour out His indignation. That is not a word of pessimism, but of hope.
There are promises in the word of God that don’t seem much like promises to some folks. For instance this one. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 That means all whose purpose of heart it is to live godly lives in this present world shall (certainly) suffer persecution, as did their Lord. Maybe we contemplate such verses and think they should say something different: perhaps something like, “And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall be appreciated for their goodness and rewarded with approval, good health and fortune.” There is Paul’s statement to the Philippians that declares, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” 3 Perhaps we would be more comfortable if that were to read, “For unto you it is given…not only to believe on him, but also to be blessed with health, wealth and prosperity.” But it doesn’t say that; it says what it says.
And what does it mean when it says about Jesus, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered?” 4
Perhaps we can answer that with a question or two. When have we obeyed; when we have done 50% of the requirement? When we have done 75% or even perhaps 95%? The answer, of course, is, not until the project is finished! To learn obedience, one must finish what has been assigned him to do. Obedience is acknowledged when the work is done.
What would be the deterrent to one’s obedience? No doubt the greatest deterrent would be the prospect of suffering through doing whatever it is that would be obedience to the current requirement. That perceived suffering may be very light, perhaps as insignificant as some small inconvenience––anything that would interfere with my own will at the moment. Defection occurs when the prospect of suffering, no matter how slight, outweighs the anticipation of the reward.
Why would we elect to suffer if we perceive the reward of our suffering to be less significant or of lesser value than that which our present pursuits will produce? No doubt this is the reason Paul told us to “set your affections on things above, not on the things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” 5 Jesus told us to “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” 6
Concerning Jesus’ suffering the scriptures say, “…Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 7
The joy He anticipated was indeed enormous considering the suffering he was willing to endure. He understood the Father’s will and foresaw the end result of His obedience to it. He saw this corrupted world in the light of eternity: a trap full of deceitful glitter mesmerizing the multitudes who have been blinded by the god of this world lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto them. His enduring of the cross was the price he was willing to pay to ransom the many beloved sons that he would bring into glory. By that same sacrifice he has done all to assure their conformity to his image. And that is the process that is being worked out by the fact that he has left his redeemed ones, for a time, in this doomed world.
He has not left his redeemed ones in this world that they might simply bask in all the counterfeit glory it has to offer. No! Rather, “As he is so are we in this world.” 8 We must therefore, have a clearer view of heaven; we must anticipate the joy that is set before us. It is that alone that will inspire obedience to the Father’s purpose. However, our present view is much like looking at the stars while immersed in the brilliance of city lights. The glory of the heavenly bodies is obscured by the brightness of our surroundings. But if we look up from the dark desolation of an unlighted desert, surrounded only by the blackness of the night, the stars stand out in all their magnificent brilliance; and we are captivated by their glory.
All over the world today there are saints that dearly love the Lord who are suffering in desperate circumstances because of their faith. For them, it is as though the lights have gone out. They have been deprived of all the “good” things this world offers. They live in abject poverty or severe persecution or both. In many cases, they have known nothing else. Many of them have taken heroic stands simply to maintain their testimonies. They have been willing to lose the only thing they have left, their lives. But in the blackness of their circumstances they have received insights into the glory and character of their Lord that the mere study of theology and the enjoyment and blessings of the good life could never have afforded them.
In our country we are seeing our blessings begin to gradually dissipate. We watch as foreign religions proliferate and true Christianity becomes more despised every day. Evangelicals are considered purveyors of “fundamentalism” and are compared to religious extremists who practice terror and destroy lives. Christ is banned from our schools and our courtrooms. It is as though righteousness is a curse, the practice of it is dangerous and the preaching of it is offensive, even disgusting. Has God lost control? Will he bless us no longer?
Rest assured, God is in control. He is turning down the lights. The glare of this world’s brilliance that has long held the gaze of the saints is being removed from our affections. As the darkness deepens, many of us will panic, will struggle to hold on to familiar but toxic pleasures. But if we will look up, we will see the lights of glory growing brighter, more alluring. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. Not only so, but the world will see our dim lights shining more brightly in the world’s dark night of sin.
God is no respecter of persons. The American church is not his favorite. It is not his intention that the Philippians should suffer for his sake, but not the churches of America. It is not his will that the churches in China, North Korea, Myanmar, Sudan and Eritrea should be deprived of comfort and encouragement while the churches of America are deprived of what will most effectively conform them to the image of Christ. No, God is in control, and He has promised that all things work together for good to them that love God; to them who are the called according to his purpose.
As we near the end, we must understand that we cannot just talk about the end times and speculate on how long in the future these things will be or upon which future generation these things will fall. We must be prepared to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service. We must no longer be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove (demonstrate to an alien world) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. That’s what Jesus did: for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. That’s where we belong, saints, sitting together with Jesus in heavenly places. “To him that overcometh,” Jesus said, “will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.” 9

(Endnotes)
1 Ezekiel 22: 26-31
2 2 Timothy 3: 12
3 Philippians 3: 29
4 Hebrews 5: 8
5 Colossians 3: 2,3
6 Matthew 6: 19,20
7 Hebrews 12: 2
8 1 John 4: 17
9 Revelation 3: 21

More editorials here!