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 "This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7)
INTRODUCTION
Last week, Dutch Sheets very ably crystallized what I knew, deep in my spirit, would happen if the battle to save Terri Schiavo's life was lost. Sheets said in a March 24th letter, "I feel very strongly that if we don't overcome this spirit of death, a new wave of violence and death will be released across our nation. It could manifest through suicides, terrorism, disease, euthanasia, increased abortions, murder, etc. How it manifests may vary, but I am issuing the warning: If this is allowed to continue in Florida, this spirit of death will be unleashed with a vengeance. But it is not too late to try to stop it!"
SUFFER IN SILENCE
This week, a great Pope made his date with the Angel of Death a very public matter for the world. Having exhausted every effort to delay and to hold onto life, yet in the end coming to terms with a time that seemed right to go home, he sent a message to the world saying that there is value in suffering. The contrast between this and the court-sanctioned death of a healthy young woman in Florida, prematurely hastened by starvation, for the sake of convenience, is like night and day.
In America, we take an aspirin if we cut our toenails too close. We will do anything to avoid discomfort, suffering, or inconvenience. This has led to American faith being labeled as 'comfortable Christianity,' an oxymoron when you consider the Cross and the 80% of the world's Christians who suffer in some way just for naming the name of Jesus. I'm not advocating masochism, but taking up your cross 'daily' is not a comfortable thing. It's just one of the battles of life.
 THE LIGHT OF LIFE
As our developing technology enables us to see further into the universe, points of light punctuate vast expanses of darkness. Only a small amount of light is needed to dispel a vastness of darkness. Nevertheless, darkness will always endeavor to push the boundaries of light back. Darkness is the language of death, while light and life are inseparable. God is all light and there is no darkness in Him. Wherever life prospers, you can be sure that God is not far.
BATTLE HARDENED
As I was preparing to leave a key meeting recently, where we had been strategizing our next move in the war to strengthen righteousness in America, a well known leader said to me, "Jeff, I can see that you are a man of many battles!" Not sure whether to take that as an insult or a compliment, I did reflect on this comment, and concluded: yes, there are many battles, but there is only one war!
Shakespeare said, "...all the world is a stage...." Both the Pope and Terri Schiavo's struggles were there for all the world to see. However, they were just two more battles in the primordial struggle of life against death. For those who 'know' Jesus, the outcome of this war is a foregone conclusion. He has already conquered death. It is our job to announce this to the world.
Our individual lives are all a gift from God. Surely, if we are made in His image, we have a responsibility to partner with Him during our brief sojourn here on earth, to push back the encroachment of darkness and let His light shine.
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