Friends, today as we approach the gateway into a new year, we must recognize the Season we are in, and that the things prophesied concerning the last days and His return for the church, are “at the very doors” as Jesus warned when He described the signs of the end times events and the soon rapture of the church in Matt 24:

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when you see all these things begin to happen, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things are fulfilled.

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

And so we should not be surprised if conditions in the world get worse, as a matter of course. Just as the pains of labor intensify, they may bring sorrow in the midst of the trials, but they are evidence of God’s plan coming to Fullness.

And WE MUST BE PREPARED for the encroaching DARKNESS, as these coming events increase, both to share them with others, but especially to understand them ourselves. The WHOLE COUNCIL of God reveals His Wisdom, and if we LOVE HIM, we will want to know the whole council of His wisdom, and those things revealed in the Bible.

Jesus said in John 17:3 :

John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

And to KNOW Jesus, we MUST KNOW HIS WORD. So we should try to read some of the Bible every day.

I had a Pastor once who suggested to start THE NEW YEAR in the New Testament, and then by the time you’ve read though to Revelation, you’ve already encountered a lot of the key Old testament promises and prophecies. Then round the bend and start in the Old Testament, and you’ll start running into those verses again and it’ll feel more familiar.

And JESUS is the WORD MADE FLESH who DWELT AMONG us as the Light come into the World to show us the way. As Psalm 119 says:

Psa 119:105 Your WORD [is] a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

And so when I talk to people, I give them the verses to answer their strange doctrinal ideas, and to dispel the worldly myths and logic that steals away their understanding. But so many people prefer the darkness in them to letting the light shine in their hearts.

And this is a significant theme in the Bible, woven throughout scripture to reveal to us the stark dichotomy of the DARKNESS in the WORLD brought by SIN and DEATH, by the “Prince of this World” as Jesus described:

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Ad so God describes Himself by contrast as Light. And God reveals this theme from the first book to the last. And He uses the theme of LIGHT to REVEAL the NATURE of HIMSELF in JESUS throughout the OLD and NEW Testament, so we would understand that JESUS/YESHUA the SAVIOR of the world, was the LIGHT OF GOD come to BANISH that very darkness from creation for all those who believe.

And so John shows us that CREATOR God CAME in the FLECH and dwelt among us, to GIVE HIMSELF, and to LIGHT the way to Eternal life, in this DARK WORLD, so we can RETURN to God’s care—like a CAPTAIN parachuting behind enemy lines to RESCUE the Prisoners of war, and LEAD THE WAY back HOME to safety.

That’s our God.

Start the New Year walking in the light, reading the Bible IN CONTEXT Every Day, and KNOW God the Father, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

Be ready to give an answer to everyone whom you have opportunity, to explain our Hope in Jesus, and help them FIND the LIGHT in His GIFT of SALVATION.

For Darkness comes when NO MAN CAN WORK.