Living in The Land of the Shadow of Death

How could I have missed it? I had read it, who knows how many times, but I never put it together. Jesus moved. He moved to Capernaum. But what I had missed was the reason why. John the Baptist had been preaching, preparing the way, until the day he was arrested. His message was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 3:2, NIV) When Jesus heard of his arrest, He made His move... into "the land of the shadow of death." (Matthew 4:16) The people "lived" in darkness; in a place where a great cloud of evil blocked the light of God, the truth of the message of God. It was as if John's arrest was the signal for Jesus to make His move.

The reason Jesus came to us was to bring light to those in darkness. John chapter 1 says, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (vv. 4-5) John's message was a witness of what was to come. It was that "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." (v. 9) Jesus was that light.

When it comes to that "land of the shadow of death," we simply walk into it... walk through it. When we set up our "abode" among them, we are still just passing through. But it's our mission. After all WE are the body of Christ, who still goes into the darkness to rescue the lost. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.... In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14, 16, NIV) Everywhere we go, everywhere we live has it's share of "dark clouds" hiding the truth: some places more so than others.

Sometimes, in our day when fear and uncertainty invade our lives, we are tempted to bend to the pressure. If our "peace and security" has been based on our well planned and organized surroundings, our ability to "earn a living, and provide for the family," we are faced with the assault of the unsettled world. We have built our houses on a foundation of sand. It is now that we must build on the Rock. That fact that He allows us to consider such thing is evidence that we still have opportunity to come to Him. But we must hurry. We must refocus, regarding the purpose of our lives. "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12, NIV)

His purpose is our purpose. Jesus continues to take light to the darkness through His church. He has promised to be with us, to provide for us. (Matthew 28:20) Our hope and security, our peace of mind, is based on His presence. He is our Good Shepherd. In fulfilling the mission of taking this light to others, we can say "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." (Psalm 23:4, NIV) It is there where the people live in darkness, and it is there where our mission will take us. That valley is not our "time of death," of leaving this world. It is the time of LIFE, that others may have the opportunity to leave the darkness and come into the Light that gives eternal life. Focus on your mission... on HIS mission. And "fear no evil."