No Room for Darkness

In the Old Testament, there were many times when God required the children of Israel to wipe out entire communities--men, women, and children. Even the flocks and herds were to be destroyed. Why?

Since the beginning of time, God divided the light from the darkness:

And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:4

God knew that in order for His children to prosper and His word to come to pass in their lives, no evil thing could be in their midst. They would need to wipe the slate clean before they could dwell in those lands.

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. Deuteronomy 30:15-16

The children of Israel, like us, had a choice to make. They could follow God or they could walk a path of destruction toward death.

...each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:4-5

See, when we choose to disobey God and to allow that one foreign idol, that one evil person who isn't good for us (but looks so lovely), that one fatted cow to maintain a place in our hearts, we deceive ourselves and sin is birthed. Just as trouble brewed in the inner camps of the Israelites when they neglected to take a knife to the throats of those God had ordered them to kill.

In God's righteous and just realm, there is no room for evil/darkness/sin. He requires us to take a knife to our own desires and things that would hold a place in our hearts above Him and His will for our lives. Because they are hindrances. They stand in the way of His blessing. His good plan.

Take an inventory of your heart today. Look at what surrounds you.

Idolatry: Is there a particular thing (career, object, desire) that you have placed above God? Does it keep you from Sunday morning fellowship? Does it keep you from the call you know God has mentioned to you once or twice or your lifetime?

Adultery: Is there a particular person in your life who you know is not good for you? They're the rotten apple that will rot the whole barrel. They're the one you admire, because they remind you of your past--the fun part, the part you're not sure you want to leave behind. Beware the flavor doesn't dissipate from your salt, leaving you a pillar that will erode away as the elements of life beat upon it.

Is there someone in your life who you've elevated above God? He or she is everything to you, good or bad. You base your opinion of yourself on what they say. You do everything they ask of you, only to end up holding the short end of the stick. Or you absolutely love them, and they are wonderful, but you spend all your time with them, neglecting Jesus.

Covetousness: Is there a fatted cow in your life? Something you desire but just can't seem to reach? Something that belongs to the foreigner or your neighbor that you just have to have? Because it looks sooooo good. Maybe it's the snowmobile or ATV (but you can't see the debt they're under to have it). Maybe it's the perky personality (but you can't see the scars on their arms from where they've cut themselves to kill the pain). Maybe it's the green grass on the other side of the white picket fence (but you can't see the bruises on bodies and egos and hearts).

Beware of what you wish for and what you allow into your life. God has a perfect plan for you and for me. We must take inventory of our hearts to make certain our desires line up with His word. We must not leave any room for evil to abide there, because it will only lead to death.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. Matthew 10:28-29