The Land of Darkness and Deep Shadow
Are not my days few? Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer before I go—and I shall not return—to the land of darkness and deep shadow, the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness.”
Job 10:20-22
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The Land of Darkness and Deep Shadow
Almost one in three Americans, in a recent survey, said they were afraid of dying. This is a common fear amongst many people. Job describes death as a land of darkness and deep shadows. Not the most welcoming place one could hope to be. Yet is death something we need fear? For the faithful Christian the answer is of course no. We need not fear death, for death has been defeated. It is true we will all one day close our eyes to this mortal world, yet they will not remain closed. For no sooner than our eyes shut in death, do they open to eternal life. For the faithful, our death is simply a homegoing, in which our heavenly Father brings us to Him in heaven. And eventually, on that last day of history, when Jesus returns, we will have “a new heaven and new earth” (Revelation 21:1) which we will spend eternity with God. That is the thing about darkness and shadows. They cannot exist in the light. We as Christians, do not exist in darkness. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5). And since we are in Christ, and He is in us we share in His light. A light which scatters the darkness. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John
Job 10:20-22
+
The Land of Darkness and Deep Shadow
Almost one in three Americans, in a recent survey, said they were afraid of dying. This is a common fear amongst many people. Job describes death as a land of darkness and deep shadows. Not the most welcoming place one could hope to be. Yet is death something we need fear? For the faithful Christian the answer is of course no. We need not fear death, for death has been defeated. It is true we will all one day close our eyes to this mortal world, yet they will not remain closed. For no sooner than our eyes shut in death, do they open to eternal life. For the faithful, our death is simply a homegoing, in which our heavenly Father brings us to Him in heaven. And eventually, on that last day of history, when Jesus returns, we will have “a new heaven and new earth” (Revelation 21:1) which we will spend eternity with God. That is the thing about darkness and shadows. They cannot exist in the light. We as Christians, do not exist in darkness. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5). And since we are in Christ, and He is in us we share in His light. A light which scatters the darkness. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John
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