3月28日 光明与黑暗
光明与黑暗
如果你向祂呼求，祂必垂听，并会立刻来拯救你。
在地上，即便是对最邪恶的罪人而言，黑暗与光明仍有些许掺杂：烦恼中存有一丝平安，痛苦中带着一点快乐，甚至还有一线蒙赦免的盼望。但在永恒里，黑暗将是彻底而决绝的。在那里，忿怒之火将永不熄灭地焚烧，罪恶将与极度的痛苦如影随形。
撒但被称为“这世界黑暗的掌权者”。因此，按着神的定旨，一切处于黑暗状态中的人都在牠的权下。圣经告诉我们，罪人本身就是魔鬼的居所。你还记得那污鬼说“我要回到我所出来的屋里去”（太12:44）那段记载吗？仿佛牠是在说：“我在神的众圣徒中间游走，敲过这扇门，也敲过那扇门，却没有一个人肯放我进去。但我知道谁会。我要回到我自己的屋里去，在那里我拥有绝对的控制权。”果然，当牠回去时，发现那屋子正空着，预备妥当了供牠享用。罪人灵魂里所有的倾向，都被调动起来，把这屋子装饰得整洁华美，好迎接那位主人的入驻。
处于黑暗中的人，没有能力抵挡撒但。撒但辖制他的全身心，扭曲他的认知，误导他的判断。当他阅读圣经时，撒但就守在旁边加添私自的强解，将真理歪曲成错谬的迷宫。若他对罪显出一丝厌恶，撒但就会让他戴上妥协的玫瑰色眼镜去看待罪。于是，这个罪人也许自以为见识大长，实际上却仍被重重迷雾所困。事实上，撒但非常“慷慨”地借给人各样不义的器具，以至于人们常把牠当作朋友而非残暴的主人。但是，人想要割断撒但拴着他领着他，在罪中如同放牧的那根绳索，靠自己完全办不到，正如伐木工人的斧头不能自发去砍树一样。
然而，所有人仍有盼望：基督这位好牧人正站在身旁。如果你向祂呼求，哪怕声音微弱得如同最软弱的小羊在哀鸣，祂也必垂听，并会立刻来拯救你。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：出39章，约18章，
个人灵修：箴15章，腓2章
MARCH 28, SATURDAY
LIGHT VERSUS DARKNESS
If you will cry out to Him, He will hear and will come to your rescue at once.
On this earth there is some mixture of darkness and light, even for the vilest sinner—some peace with trouble, some pleasure with pain, some hope of pardon. But in eternity there is darkness to the utmost. There the fire of wrath will burn without slacking, and sin keep pace with utter torment.
Satan is called the “ruler of the darkness of this world.” All those in a state of darkness are therefore under his rule by God’s decree. Scripture tells us sinners are the very dwelling place of the devil. Do you recall the account where the unclean spirit determined to “return into my house” (Matthew 12:44)? It is as though he said, “I have walked among the saints of God, knocking at this door and that, and no one will let me in. But I know who will. I will go back to my own house, where I am sure to rule with complete control.” And sure enough, when he returns he finds it empty and ready for his enjoyment. Every inclination of the soul is employed to make the house trim and handsome for the master.
Those in darkness have no power to resist Satan. He rules the whole man, shaping his apprehensions and distorting his perceptions. If he reads the Scripture, Satan stands by with his own running commentary, twisting the truth into a maze of lies. If he shows any distaste for sin, Satan has him view it through the rose-colored glasses of compromise. And while the sinner may think his insight is greatly improved, in truth, he remains under manifold delusions. In fact, Satan is so gracious in lending this or that instrument of unrighteousness, he often is taken for a friend rather than a cruel master. But a man can no sooner cut the tether by which Satan keeps him pastured in sin than the woodsman’s axe can chop a tree of its own accord.
Yet here is hope for everyone: Christ the Good Shepherd is standing by. If you will cry out to Him, though it be no louder than the pitiful bleating of the weakest lamb, He will hear and will come to your rescue at once.