Jn 9:4, “I must work the works of him
who sent me while it is day; the night is coming, when no one can work.”
The night is a time when we take a break and rest in order to be fit enough
to tackle the following day. It’s a moment when we sleep and thus, by analogy,
a moment of spiritual slumber and decreased vigilance. It’s also a time when
the powers of darkness are let loose.
According to Jesus, the night is coming, when NO ONE – not even Him – can
work. Although GOD is the Creator of time and seasons, and of the alternation
between day and night, He has chosen to respect the authority that He has
delegated to the night. This is why He told Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and the baby
(Jesus) in order to escape from King Herod’s killing spree. If GOD
did not mobilize the armies of heaven to protect His only Begotten Son, and if He
advised exile instead, then what does this tell us about us? We should also know when the time
has come for us to run away. In Isaiah 43:2, He says: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the
rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not
be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” He did not say: “If you
face waters or fire, I’ll make you fly!” In other words, waters and fire will
not disappear. We will wrestle with the tides, even swallowing water at times;
and we will walk through the fire, burning the sole of our feet and maybe even
our hair in the process. He has simply promised to stay with us to ensure that
we are neither overwhelmed by the waters nor consumed by the flames. It’s not
because Jesus “cannot work” that we are on our own in the middle of our nights,
as the devil will often have us believe. Indeed, the LORD neither slumbers nor
sleeps and He has placed lights (stars) in the heavens to rule over the night:
our night is never absolutely dark… Praise GOD (Ps 121:4; Gen 1:14-18)!
Man puts an end to darkness (Job 28:3). Jesus may have His hands
‘tied’ during the night, but the key is in our hands. We can (and must) put an
end to darkness. He has given us power over all the power of the enemy and
expects us to use it, to rule and to overcome all our adversaries (Lk 10:19, Ps
110:2, Rev 12:11).
Even when a test is absolutely inevitable – Jesus had to die on the Cross and we’ll
all die etc. – GOD still gives us room
to manoeuvre. For instance, the fact that a Christian will die of cancer, doesn't mean that they must also endure an incredible amount of pain. The pain and the side effects of their treatment can be controlled through prayers. Indeed, speaking of the End of the world –about which He
himself has no control on-, Jesus said: Pray
that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath (Mat 24:20). He would
not say this if our prayer had no incidence. So, if we can influence the circumstances
of a day such as the end of the world, then how much more can we flex the
circumstances of our night and testing? GOD is much more ready to collaborate
with us than we realize. He says: “Come
now, let us reason together!” (Is 1:18); but either we do not come, or when we
do come, we spend time crying or complaining instead of pleading and reasoning…
“Night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard” (Ps
19:2-3). The night speaks and every test or challenge should make us
wiser. It is written that GOD speaks and warns us through dreams and
visions of the night and seals our instruction (Job 33:15-16). We are usually too
distracted during the day and the LORD often has to wait the night to get our
attention. It is out of the crucible that comes pure gold or silver and there
is nothing better than testing to make us grow. In fact, even nature teaches us
that it is mainly during the night that plants grow.
Finally, irrespective of the length
and depth of the night, the day will always come (Is 9:1-2). Every test
that GOD allows in our lives always comes with its exit door or expiry date
(1Cor 10:13). GOD doesn’t want you to perish in the night; but He wants you to
wake up and arise from the dead and shine; for your light, your deliverance,
your salvation and your glory have come, Hallelujah! (Eph 5:14, Is 60:1).
Remember, there are many jobs and activities that take place at night. In other
words, despite your challenges and hardship, life goes on; it maybe different, but
it goes on nonetheless and we must carry on with it.
I am sorry I was not able to blog over the last two weeks. it was due to reasons beyond my control. I wish you all a fantastic week and, to my daughter Anne-Florence, a very special happy birthday and birth week, and a shower of blessings and love.
GOD bless!
