There’s a time of day when things are dim and not easily seen. It’s that time between the darkness and light called twilight. You can see shapes but it’s hard to make out details of what you see. You run the risk of stumbling by stepping in a hole if you walk in the twilight hours because there’s a certain amount of blindness. It’s not daylight, nor is it night…it’s sort of non-committal. Many Christians live in the twilight of their walk with Christ…not fully embracing the Light of the world but holding on to enough darkness of Satan so as not to change their lives too much. They easily stumble.

Jesus had much to say about the way we should behave, and Christians need to pay attention.

“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).

Too many of us choose to stumble around in the darkness of the world, or try to live in both darkness and light, but that isn’t how to live. Jesus is the Light to our path, and we need to follow His Light.

When Jesus revealed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus, He said that Paul had a calling.

“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou has seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:16-18).

This was quite a revelation to Paul, who had fiercely persecuted Christians. Paul was blinded by the light, but when he regained his sight, he was a totally changed man. He turned away from the dark Satanic path he had followed and gave his life to Jesus. Paul was called to be a minister and a witness to the fallen world that he had once embraced. Brothers and sisters, we too are called to “…turn people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God….” We cannot do that if we are walking in twilight instead of walking in the full light of God. Whatever sin is holding you in its grip can be forgiven if you repent. You’ll never fully walk in the Light of Jesus while you hold on to the darkness.

Christians know that the Holy Spirit is our guide through life. This truth isn’t a “pie in the sky” idea, and we need to consciously listen for His guidance. He will never lead you in a path contrary to Scripture. Scripture needs to be taken seriously, and the Holy Spirit will bring understanding if you don’t try to justify your own sin and interpret it through your own prejudices. The Devil is real, and his goal is to stumble Christians and influence each of us to call evil good and be open-minded about sin…to question if God really means what He says.

Many Christians absolutely will not drink any form of alcohol, but have no problem being angry or gossiping. We need to see things from God’s point of view. God says not to get drunk, but wine is an important part of the Jewish feasts; and Jesus even turned water to wine at a wedding. On the other hand, anger and slander are problems.

Jesus said “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:21-22).

“Raca” was a very derogatory word, meaning empty-headed or a fool. So, if you think you’re walking in the Light of the Lord because you won’t touch alcohol, but fly off the handle and call someone a fool, you’re walking in twilight.

Satan and his minions will try to pull even the strongest Christian into sin.

In the Old Testament we read the history of the nation of Israel and of the kings. After the kingdom divided, the Northern Kingdom completely turned from God and went the way of pagans. The most notorious and evil monarchs in the north were King Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel. They were totally given over to paganism. The Southern Kingdom had some good kings and some bad ones. Sadly, even the good kings allowed some pagan ways. When a king would remove all the groves and high places, which were devoted to pagan worship, they always left a few. The prophet Ezekiel was even shown that deep inside the Temple, paganism was taking place.

Nothing is hidden from God. That’s no different than Christians. Too often we repent of almost all sin but hold on to just a little. It may not be “big” sin, but even ones we deem as small by human standards are still sin according to God’s standards.

We’ve already seen that Jesus said being angry is a sin, but what are other ways we walk in twilight instead of in the Light of Jesus? Do you peek at pornography? If you buy certain magazines and lust after the pictures, you’re guilty of sin. Although some people say abortion is a woman’s right, it’s nothing less than a human sacrifice, which is a sin. Do you laugh at television shows that depict ungodly values or go to movies that are violent and filled with foul language? We all have our favorite sins we hold on to, and these keep us away from the full Light of Jesus.

I’m not advocating works for salvation because accepting Christ’s sacrifice has redeemed you. I am advocating taking every thought captive and choosing to follow the way of Christ rather than the way of the world.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

It’s a choice we make daily. We all stumble in the twilight from time to time, but we can always ask for forgiveness, and He is always willing to forgive.

How can we ever completely walk in the Light and not fail? We can’t. As long as we live on this side of Heaven, we will struggle against the sin in our life. The best way to move from twilight to Light is to break bad habits. Determine that you will please God and not man, then stop giving in to the habits that cause sin.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica and gave a short list of how to keep in the light:

> “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). If you’re in prayer, then temptation can’t get into your thoughts.

> “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). The Holy Spirit is sealed within Christians and He will guide us. We can ignore Him if we so choose, and the more we ignore Him the quieter He will speak. Listen to His guidance and obey.

> “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). This means that you may have to completely change your way of living. You may be a solid Christian in your heart, but if you dress in revealing clothing, you give the appearance of someone with loose morals. If your hairstyle resembles that which is worn by gang members, you do give the appearance of evil. If you choose to live a sexually immoral life, then that is more than just the appearance of evil. No, I’m not nit picking. If you’re a Christian, then don’t appear as one who loves the world more than Christ.

“Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8).

It’s been said that we grow to resemble the god we serve. If you look like the world and put out an appearance of evil, then it stands to reason that you serve the god of this world and follow his darkness. If you claim to serve Jesus but choose to look worldly, then you’re walking in twilight.

We hear it quite often: We need revival. This is true. The problem is, we want others to be revived while we ourselves continue to walk in twilight. Pastors are shy about preaching the full word of God because there are subjects in Scripture that might cause them to lose their tax-exempt status. If sin is talked about from the pulpit, some pew-warmers just might be offended and withdraw their tithes. Money is more important than truth. Instead of trying to please those who embrace the darkness, it’s time to stand fully in the light.

When Jesus told Peter to feed the sheep, He didn’t mean to feed them milk, but to give them something to chew on, consider, and pray about. Revival has to start with every professing Christian. If we aren’t walking in the Light, then how can we lead others. Every day we need to be sure we walk in the full Light of God, rather than stumbling around in twilight and darkness. Instead of being the light that shines hope into this fallen world, we allow ourselves to be silenced by people who embrace the darkness of Satan. Christians must follow Christ rather than Satan

“The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness” (Luke 11:34-35).

Too many Christians embrace twilight…preaching the light but embracing the dark. How can there be a revival if Christians aren’t letting Christ’s light shine?

We are drawing very near to the Rapture. Prophecy is being fulfilled rapidly, and there’s very little time left for us to be a witness to the fallen world that’s lost in darkness. Jesus is the Light to this fallen world, and Christians are the ones whom that Light shines through. If we continue walking in twilight, then shame on us.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos” – God breathed.

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God gives gifts, but it’s up to us what we do with those gifts. We can choose whether we use the gift wisely, or squander it.

Solomon is an example of someone who asked for the right gift, but then made bad choices. When he began his reign as king over Israel, he loved God. After all, he had the example of his father, King David, who was a man after God’s own heart.

“And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places” (1 Kings 3:3).

Oops. He loved God, but also honored pagan gods. Solomon had made a treaty with the Pharaoh and married his daughter. This wife was not Jewish and worshipped pagan gods. Take note: Never be unequally yoked. To make it worse, he married more than one pagan bride, and these women influenced Solomon to sacrifice offerings and burn incense in high places. High places were where pagan worship and rituals were conducted. Had Solomon been faithful to God Almighty, followed his father’s example of his love for God, and rejected advice from pagans, his life would have been much better. Still, God gave him a choice. God came to Solomon in a dream and asked what gift he desired.

“And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou has chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing” (1 Kings 3:6-10).

Solomon said the right words; and at this point in his life, he sincerely meant them. God was pleased and gave Solomon the gift he asked for. Solomon used his wisdom, but he also went the way of his pagan wives. He amassed a fortune and his fame spread to many nations. Unfortunately, he didn’t use his gift from God wisely. It matters who you take advice from, and Solomon chose to look to the world for guidance instead of God.

By the end of his life, Solomon was an empty man. He had written many wise sayings, but didn’t listen to his own words.

“Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain” (Proverbs 30:7-9).

It’s been said, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” The truth is, when a person dies, they leave the toys behind. Only those things done for Christ will follow us after death. The word “vanity” in this proverb means emptiness and worthlessness. Solomon came to his end an unfulfilled man. Is he any different than most of us? Solomon had earthly gain, but spiritual loss, and that left him empty. He had a wonderful example of a Godly man from his father. David made many mistakes, but when those mistakes were brought to his attention, his heart was broken and he earnestly sought God’s forgiveness. Solomon didn’t learn from David’s example. What example are you giving to your own children?

Some of us have been blessed by having God-fearing parents, but what example do you follow? Do you ask them for advice, or do you look to people who may not have your best interest at heart?

Solomon’s mother was a participant in David’s greatest sin, but she seemed to learn from her mistakes. All of us make mistakes; but if we continue making those same mistakes, we end up empty like Solomon. Perhaps if Solomon had asked his mother, Bathsheba, for advice about who to marry, the pagan women wouldn’t have led him into the sin of pagan worship. If he had followed the example of his father, David, he would have sought Godly men to advise him and listened to them. Instead, Solomon took advice from people who just fed him what he wanted to hear. At a young age he had professed his love for God, but his life reflected his rejection of God.

We all face choices. How many of us have professed faith in God, but then continued to make choices that dishonored Him? When faced with a decision, we can see many options and get confused. Bad choices come from relying upon our own emotions, and that becomes a bad habit.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

These are wise words coming from a man who chose not to lean on the Lord.

Even Christians make bad decisions. When a person only relies on their own understanding or feelings, that can lead to some very wrong decisions. Sometimes we’re too emotionally close to a problem to see the right choice. That’s when we need to seek advice from someone who loves God. You may be sitting in a prison cell today because of choices you’ve made. Make no mistake, prisons don’t all have bars on the doors. Sometimes we’re imprisoned in a life where sin weighs heavily upon us.

God will never lead you into sin. You’re in this trouble because of your own choices. Instead of listening to Godly advice, you continue to seek the counsel of people who have helped you into the mess you’re in. Perhaps you’re in an ungodly relationship but see no way out and are willing to compromise God’s truth for worldly sin. Maybe you’re actually in a prison cell making plans for what happens after your release.

Are you taking advice from someone who loves God and cares about you? Could it be that you’re in the trouble you’re in because you’ve continually rejected that advice? This would be a good time to honestly assess the choices you made to get you where you are today.

Scripture is filled with examples of men and women who have faced choices. The ones who made carnal choices suffered. For example, Lot made a bad choice when he decided to move to Sodom.

“Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other” (Genesis 13:11).

Lot and Abraham went their separate ways, but Lot chose what looked good, but in fact was a poor choice. He ended up living in Sodom where sin was rampant. When he chose to move to the plain of Jordan, he was tempted by how beautiful it was. After he learned of the sin there, he stayed by choice.

That’s true for many of us. The lure of sin may look tempting at first, but if you choose to stay in that sin, it’s a choice you make. The sin and evil in Sodom were overwhelming.

Lot’s family was influenced by the wickedness around them. By staying, Lot was a poor example of a parent. Eventually the sin became so bad that God had to destroy Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities. Lot’s family was given a choice. They could leave the place of wickedness and live, or stay and be destroyed. You also have a choice. You can stay in the sin that’s destroying you, or leave it behind. Lot, his wife, and his two daughters made the right choice and left, but the lure of what they had left was too much for his wife.

“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).

Lot’s wife looked back. Take heed. If you’re imprisoned by sin, you’ve made bad choices. Learn from the past and change. Even Jesus used Lot’s wife as a warning.

“Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).

This was a warning for the final days, but is good advice for all of us. If you don’t run from the sin that has trapped you, then you will be destroyed by looking back.

If you’re facing a choice in life, remember that someone cares about you. Maybe you need to listen to the parent whose advice you’ve rejected for so many years. If you’ve continually run into trouble in life, then you’ve chosen to listen to wrong advice.

“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).

Humble yourself and admit you’ve made bad choices. Go to the parent who loves you. Maybe it’s time to listen. If you’ve accepted Christ for salvation, but have been walking with Satan, you need to reestablish your relationship with Jesus. There’s no sin He won’t forgive. You need to repent. That means you need to change your mind about the mistakes you’ve made. Maybe you abuse drugs or have had an abortion. God is willing to forgive. Pick up your Bible and study His word. The Gospel of John reveals the love God has for you.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

If you’re looking at the doors of a jail cell…whether literal or the ones we trap ourselves in with our own choices…turn to Jesus. Ask Him to show you the door that leads to true freedom in Him. Then ask Him to help you open that door and walk through it every day.

“Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Don’t look back.

The most important choice we make is whether or not to accept Jesus for salvation, but if you’ve been smart enough to accept His sacrifice, then He should guide your decisions. That choice should affect every other choice in life. When we come to Jesus, a change should happen in our attitude and how we look at life, and make a change in our decisions. You cannot change yesterday, but you can allow Christ to help you change today and tomorrow.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17).

It’s not always easy to change. Not because we don’t want to but because the temptations in the world are strong, and we keep holding on to the sins of the past. Giving in to temptation becomes a habit that’s hard to break. The time we spend rejecting Jesus can never be recovered, but we can move forward. Study Scripture and seek advice from people who serve the Lord.

Set your petition before God. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

The problem is that most of us knock and seek our own sinful desires. When you pray, are you telling God what your will is, and seeking it rather than seeking God’s will? By doing that, you will always fall back into the same mistakes that have imprisoned you. You may not realize it but someone is praying for you. Maybe it’s a parent, grandparent, friend, or even a stranger. Prayer changes situations…even yours. Seek God’s will.

The choices we make affect us and people around us. Have your choices landed you in a bad situation? Do you continue to reject godly advice? It’s time to seek God and choose to serve Him.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos” – God breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.