Age Of Darkness

This month WhisperArt’s focus is on those organizations that look out for the protection, health and welfare of animals. As a matter fact, I will be adding the ASPCA to the list of organizations that WhisperArt supports. When I read the verse referenced above, I wouldn’t say that I am very innocent, but I would say that I am very naïve about the things of the world, and how the world works. When I started thinking and praying about the verse referenced above, my little dog Dotty came to mind. We acquired Dottie from a local no-kill animal shelter about a year ago. Dottie is a blue heeler/terrier mix and she is about three years old. A plumber found Dottie under an abandoned house with a litter of puppies. The plumber kept the puppies, but handed Dottie over to the no-kill animal shelter, where we picked her up. Over the past year we have come to love Dotty very much, and she has certainly added to the quality of our lives. By now you might be wondering what all this has to do with the verse referenced above. Since my wife and I have been married, we have had a total of five dogs. I am not saying anything derogatory about the church, but we have learned more over the past 40 years about unconditional love from our dogs, than we have from sitting in a church pew for the past forty years. Let me just tell you a little bit more about Dottie. She never leaves my side, and she is always with me. It doesn’t matter if I’m having a good day or bad day, Dottie sticks with me. It reminds me of what Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Like I said, I am pretty naïve about how the world works, but when I see stories on television about how poor innocent animals are being miss-treated and abused, it breaks my heart, and I have to turn it off. I just can’t wrap my mind around how anyone could do such things to innocent animals. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, because just look at what they did to Jesus. And look at what Jesus‘s response was. It was to forgive them, and so it is with Dottie. Like Jesus, Dotty loves me unconditionally, on my good days and my bad days. Let’s now talk a little bit about what our response as Christians should be, when we are taken advantage of and persecuted by the wolves that are all around us. 75% of the time when our phone rings, it displays the alert, “Scam Likely“. Trying to be shrewd, I never answer the phone when this alert appears. That is a no-brainer, but other situations involving the wolves can be a bit more difficult to understand and handle. It is in these situations that we must call upon Jesus to guide us. You might be a little surprised what God would have you do, but we must remember that our ways are not God’s ways. In the verse referenced above Jesus said he was sending us out as sheep. Another way to look at this is to say, that we are being used as bait in order to pull the big ones in. We may be as dumb as sheep, and not very shrewd, but you can bet that God will cause all things to work out for good, for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. So when you are taken advantage of/persecuted, rejoice, because you have been found worthy to sacrifice yourself for Christ’s sake in this age of darkness. Praise the holy name of Jesus!

Age Of Darkness

Do not fear or be discouraged,

God is in control.

Soldiers die for our freedom,

Jesus died for our soul.

In this age of darkness and hate,

The battle rages on.

God will have His revenge,

When the darkness meets the dawn.

Let us pray for our brothers and sister,

And let them know we’re on the same side.

Let us honor the gallant memory,

Of those who bravely served and died.

Let’s also remember to thank Jesus,

Before the chance is gone.

His divine light will engulf the night,

When the darkness meets the dawn.