I’m
sure the title of this article will bring back memories for many
of you. It goes back a few years to the television program Lost
In Space. The robot on the futuristic ship cruising
in space would warn the character Will Robinson of impending danger,
in much the same way we would tell our children to be careful.
Lost In Space seemed so far into the future
to those of us who grew up watching that television series. Yet,
we live with danger everyday.
I
have a son who is afraid of the dark. He won’t even take the trash
out to the trash bin after twilight. His mind conjures up all
sorts of beasts and monsters that are out to get him, although
he has no problems at all taking the trash out in the daylight
hours. I jokingly remind him that there is nothing in the dark
that isn’t there when the sun is out.
Maybe
we should think a little more about that. Webster’s Dictionary
defines danger as "exposure to injury, evil or loss." Many things
in life warn us of danger. Moms often warn their toddlers of the
dangers to things that will hurt them, STOP signs and signal lights
warn us of the dangers of traffic accidents and lighthouses once
were a warning to ships at sea of the rocks near the shoreline
during storms.
We
as Christians have taken the symbols of a lighthouse to symbolize
a beacon ...a beacon that shines into the darkness. It certainly
does that, but it also served as a warning to stay away. I had
never thought of a lighthouse in that way until our pastor gave
a sermon on the subject of light and mentioned that fact.
How
do we avoid danger? It’s really all around us, in the daytime
and well as the night. Satan is certainly dangerous and very insidious.
His presence permeates this world. I realize more and more every
day just how much his presence affects the people on this earth.
We
are to go forth and make disciples. We are to take the light to
the darkness, much like you would take a candle into a cave. That’s
one of the last things Jesus said for us to accomplish just before
He left the earth. In order for us to go forth, we must invade
the "dark" places and shine our lights to chase darkness way.
If we are not careful, instead of us chasing away the darkness,
the darkness could overtake us, especially if we are not properly
equipped to handle all of the hidden dangers.
There
is another analogy in the movie What Dreams May Come
starring Robin Williams that was released a couple of years ago.
His character unexpectedly died and he went to heaven. His wife
was so despondent over his death that she committed suicide and
supposedly went to Hell. He loved her so much that he followed
her into Hell to bring her back to Heaven. He was warned by his
guide, that if he was not careful and swift, and aware of his
surroundings that he would succumb to the darkness and despair
and would not have the strength to leave Hell.
We
should take this fictional warning to heart. If we do not don
the armor that God freely gives us we may too, succumb to the
darkness in this world and not have the weapons to fight the wiles
of Satan.
God
gives us His Word, and the Holy Spirit to help us ward off the
evil one. We pray everyday, and in those prayers we should ask
for strength to shine our lights in the darkness yet not let our
lanterns grow short of fuel.
Often,
we go into places that may seem on the surface a situation that
we can handle. And maybe we can for a little while, until we let
down our godly guard. Once we do that it’s sooo easy to slip toward
the ones we’ve come to help. Satan’s pull can and will overtake
our heavenly beacons if we do not constantly refuel with the tools
of our Lord.
It’s
easy to give way to the sin that so easily besets us. It’s hard
to resist temptation. It’s all to easy to let the thoughts and
sights invade our mind and not replace them with His good thoughts
and His word.
Jesus
said he would not have any be lost. Let’s take care while we’re
doing God’s work, that we don’t join the ones we’ve come to help.
Let’s not get weary in well doing either...although Satan will
make it seem sometimes, that we are the ones who are wrong. It’s
a constant battle between our flesh and Love.
Don’t
despair or become discouraged for we already know the outcome
of the battle between darkness and light and the righteous name
of the Victor! Let’s heed the words, "Danger...Will Robinson!",
but move forward with courage and in full armor knowing the battle
is won. Don’t look back longingly as Lot’s wife did to Sodom and
Gomorrah. If we do we’ll be halted in our footsteps, unable to
go forward. We’ll be stuck in the darkness! Remember and heed
Danger...Will Robinson! We don’t want to end up like Lot’s wife...
(because salt is proven to be bad for our blood pressure!)
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