Darkness Swallowed by Light! Majestic Mountain View Series, Part 17

"You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse." (Matt 5:27, MSG) To many, this is not a problem. However... "But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices-they also corrupt." (Matt 5:28, MSG)

This is revolutionary. It's not only our actions that condemn us, but also our hearts, our thoughts. What is lurking secretly in our hearts will eventually be divulged!

Jesus made it clearly: "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matt 6:22-23, NIV2) Wherever our focus is, it will either destroy us or be a blessing to others. There are no alternatives. We either live light or we adore darkness. After all, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." (Luke 16:13a, NIV2)

From there we are encouraged to, "Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight." (Deut 6:18a, NIV2). This is confirmed numerous times all over the Bible. Why? If at every moment we would contemplate what would be right and good, we would never enter into temptation. We would be honoring our Father continually.

Unfortunately, there are not many in this world who follow this advice...

August 9, 1974 was a hot, sweltering day with nearly no wind. A cargo aircraft with unarmed U.N. Peacekeepers from Canada were heading to Damascus, Syria, to deliver much-needed provisions. The hearts of these workers were to help these people. They certainly were doing what is: "right and good in the LORD's sight". Many people would wholeheartedly thank them for their free services.

Not everyone thought that way, however. As soon as the plane crossed into Syria, a Soviet-made surface-to-air SA 2 missile hit the plane, to be followed by two more. The hits were head-on, killing everyone on board and destroying the so-needed provisions. No one took responsibility of this cowardly attack. This was truly an act of darkness.

Unfortunately, hardly anyone in Canada even heard about this catastrophe. Just the day before, Richard Nixon had given his resignation as the United States president. As a result of this news, the slaughtered heroes did not even receive the honor they were due. It was truly a dark day in history.

The event was not entirely forgotten, however. The Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping pestered the Canadian government relentlessly until finally, on June 18, 2008, 34 years later, they gave in. In memory of these nine U.N. Peacekeepers who had given their lives for the cause, the single largest loss of life suffered by Canadian Peacekeepers, August 9 was set aside as National Peacekeeper's Day. It was a bright and shiny day for the Canadians.

In everything we do, we either bring light or darkness in our surroundings. What will we broadcast? After all, darkness is always swallowed wherever light shines!

Rob Chaffart

Darkness Swallowed by Light! Majestic Mountain View Series, Part 17

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