This Present Age

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul mentions "the rulers of the darkness of this age". Who then do these beings rule over? We don't know for sure, but as we look around us, some clues will present themselves. Have you watched a brother or sister in Christ brought nearly to tears of frustration dealing with the minions of a faceless bureaucracy? Sure, happens all the time we say. Looks like some of that ruling going on there. Diseases, injuries, genetic deviations (other than your brother I mean), that cause suffering appear around you? Yup, some more of that ruling darkness. Accidents that should never happen occur each day on the roads around us. What exquisite timing to bring those vehicles together. The cause of so much pain and death remains a mystery to us. It may well be those rulers of this present darkness. Then, we see the battlefield of the mind, probably even experience it ourselves. Yes, there is much darkness in the world, and we well know it.

What Paul saw all around him continues in this age to this day. As we look up to our Lord in great hope and faith, we know that the Healer will come again soon. The world may be dark for the moment, but a great light has shined in the darkness, and His second coming will not be delayed. Losing hope would be easy for us if we were to stare too much into that darkness. The Light and the Life give us hope as we read His Word. Deceptions abound in the darkness causing fear and depression. Only the Light of Jesus shining in Him and through His disciples wielding His Word stands against that darkness. Saints, take up the whole armor of God! We are in the fight of our lives.

As Paul said, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

Bucky