Some people spend most of their lives out in the darkness of the world and need help moving to the daylight.”
–Cliff Hudgins (Viejo and the Hunted Ranger)
“You should give that word your closest attention, for it shines like a lamp amidst all the dirt and darkness of the world, until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
–2 Peter 1:19 (Phillips)
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There are some who have what they call “a life verse.” I don’t have a problem with that. It can be a verse that is the rock to which one clings in rough times. I have found, however, in my life that there are many verses that reach out to me, or rather I should say, I cling to. In the last decade Proverbs 4:18 has been one of those main verses. I have used it in all of my novels. I really like the way the NLT translates it.
“But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” (NKJV)
“The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.” (NLT)
One of my favorite things is to sit by the window in the early morning, before dawn, drinking my coffee and doing my morning studies and devotions. I like to see gray light begin to appear which will turn into an array of colors. They may be red, orange, pink, purple, but that is the breaking of dawn, the sun is not up yet. However, soon light begins to appear through the tops of the trees indicating that day is now upon us. Soon, the sun will be shining in its brightness stating that day is now here.
Christ is dawn’s early light when we accept Him, and He continues to shine in brightness as we follow Him. J.L. Flores refers to this as “the highway of holiness.” It is referred to as the narrow gate (Matthew 7:14). Interestingly, upon reading several translations I only find the NIV and KJV referring to it as a “narrow way.” Other translations use the terms, “difficult,” “hard,” “difficult,” which could definitely imply “narrow” or “constricting.” But the entrance is small, hard to see, maybe like the dawning there is little light. But as we enter, despite the hardness or the difficulties of the way it begins to open up. As the sun shines more and more brightly we find more knowledge, more holiness, and more joy. We are walking in “a holy security,” (Matthew Henry) following the way of Christ. People speak of progressiveness, then this is the true and right meaning of progressive. This is the path to take as it shines more and more.
Note, however, the next verse. There is a vast contrast.
“The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” (NKJV)
The ESV and other versions say that it is “deep darkness.” Oh, the entrance is easy to see. There is a carnival atmosphere around it. Lights are glowing, false lights not like that of the sun, enhancing the entrance. But as one enters it proceeds to get darker, the path is more narrow. Charles Bridges writes, “The way of the wicked is darkness, without direction, comfort, safety, or peace.” There is confusion when a person is in darkness, they begin to grope about, they stumble and don’t even know what they tripped over. The darker it gets the more they stumble. For “Wickedness puts out the eyes of the soul.” (J.L. Flores)
Isaiah writes, “…we look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness! We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes; we stumble at noonday as at twilight; we are as dead men in desolate places.” (59:9-10, NKJV) “The darkness is a darkness that may be felt. It constitutes our eternal chains.” (Samuel Miller) Gone are the lights and the atmosphere of the grand carnival, and now there is fear, stumbling, groping, and the road continues to restrict and lead downward. How dark will be the day of perdition until finally they find themselves as Jesus said “in darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 22:13; 25:30)
There are two paths: one has a narrow entrance but the way gets brighter. The other promises a carnival, a circus, but upon entering the way become lawless, and darker. Man has been given light to find the right path, but it is up to him to choose. The light from the godly also indicates the entrance to the way of Christ. The wicked, however, shut their eyes to the light and they choose to take the way of stumbling and will eventually fall into the depths. Thank the Lord, we have been called out of darkness into the Light of the grace of God.
“You should give that word your closest attention, for it shines like a lamp amidst all the dirt and darkness of the world, until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
–2 Peter 1:19 (Phillips)
—————————-
There are some who have what they call “a life verse.” I don’t have a problem with that. It can be a verse that is the rock to which one clings in rough times. I have found, however, in my life that there are many verses that reach out to me, or rather I should say, I cling to. In the last decade Proverbs 4:18 has been one of those main verses. I have used it in all of my novels. I really like the way the NLT translates it.
“But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” (NKJV)
“The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.” (NLT)
One of my favorite things is to sit by the window in the early morning, before dawn, drinking my coffee and doing my morning studies and devotions. I like to see gray light begin to appear which will turn into an array of colors. They may be red, orange, pink, purple, but that is the breaking of dawn, the sun is not up yet. However, soon light begins to appear through the tops of the trees indicating that day is now upon us. Soon, the sun will be shining in its brightness stating that day is now here.
Christ is dawn’s early light when we accept Him, and He continues to shine in brightness as we follow Him. J.L. Flores refers to this as “the highway of holiness.” It is referred to as the narrow gate (Matthew 7:14). Interestingly, upon reading several translations I only find the NIV and KJV referring to it as a “narrow way.” Other translations use the terms, “difficult,” “hard,” “difficult,” which could definitely imply “narrow” or “constricting.” But the entrance is small, hard to see, maybe like the dawning there is little light. But as we enter, despite the hardness or the difficulties of the way it begins to open up. As the sun shines more and more brightly we find more knowledge, more holiness, and more joy. We are walking in “a holy security,” (Matthew Henry) following the way of Christ. People speak of progressiveness, then this is the true and right meaning of progressive. This is the path to take as it shines more and more.
Note, however, the next verse. There is a vast contrast.
“The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” (NKJV)
The ESV and other versions say that it is “deep darkness.” Oh, the entrance is easy to see. There is a carnival atmosphere around it. Lights are glowing, false lights not like that of the sun, enhancing the entrance. But as one enters it proceeds to get darker, the path is more narrow. Charles Bridges writes, “The way of the wicked is darkness, without direction, comfort, safety, or peace.” There is confusion when a person is in darkness, they begin to grope about, they stumble and don’t even know what they tripped over. The darker it gets the more they stumble. For “Wickedness puts out the eyes of the soul.” (J.L. Flores)
Isaiah writes, “…we look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness! We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes; we stumble at noonday as at twilight; we are as dead men in desolate places.” (59:9-10, NKJV) “The darkness is a darkness that may be felt. It constitutes our eternal chains.” (Samuel Miller) Gone are the lights and the atmosphere of the grand carnival, and now there is fear, stumbling, groping, and the road continues to restrict and lead downward. How dark will be the day of perdition until finally they find themselves as Jesus said “in darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 22:13; 25:30)
There are two paths: one has a narrow entrance but the way gets brighter. The other promises a carnival, a circus, but upon entering the way become lawless, and darker. Man has been given light to find the right path, but it is up to him to choose. The light from the godly also indicates the entrance to the way of Christ. The wicked, however, shut their eyes to the light and they choose to take the way of stumbling and will eventually fall into the depths. Thank the Lord, we have been called out of darkness into the Light of the grace of God.