October 4, 2024 -- Proverbs 4:18-19 -- Righteousness in Christ that shines ever brighter

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble.
Proverbs 4:18-19 ESV

Remember that King Solomon wrote the Book of Proverbs. He was the king of the people of the Living God. These writings are for the people of God—”to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth” (Proverbs 1:4). It is to be used by the people of the Living God as encouragement in righteousness and as a searching lamp used to seek out one’s sin so it can be rooted out.

All too often Christians come to church, looking nicely dressed and cleaned up, but in their hearts there are evil intentions, their minds are stages where dress rehearsals are taking place where plots are constantly being formulated to take out those who have offended these “Christians”. It is notable that in the New Testament the Apostle Paul does not call himself a Christian, but instead calls himself one who is “in Christ”. That is, he defined his life by his union with Jesus Christ.

The beloved disciple wrote “God is light and in Him there is not darkness at all” (I John 1:5). Already here in the Old Testament, King Solomon is calling on believers to live as those who examine their hearts and minds against the light of Scripture and expose the wicked schemes and evil plans still being formulated. Christians are born with, and still carry, the taint of original sin. Adam and Eve’s Fall in the Garden of Eden infects every single one of their descendants. It is by recognizing such evil that still lodges in the heart, turning away from it, and confessing it to Jesus that it is thrown down. The Christian who repents, denying himself, that means putting his own selfish desires to death, will continually follow Jesus and the righteousness which radiates from his union with Jesus will shine a bit brighter until the Day of His return.

It is common for sinners to say, “I don’t have a problem”. It is sad to hear Christians who talk and act as if they do not wrestle with sin. Unless one is constantly engaged in the fight against sin, admitting he is powerless to act against it and that sin controls one’s life, he will not daily, hourly even, seek the conquering power of Christ’s blood and His resurrection power. To be in Christ is (by Scripture, prayer, and the constant cultivating of the awareness of His nearness) to match His infinite power and loving care to your weakness and powerlessness so that by His strength at work in you your sin is overcome.

Father in heaven, thank You, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for all of us, so that we can be in Christ. King Jesus, I admit I am powerless, helpless to fight my sin, and it is controlling my life. Spirit of the Living God, apply the reconciling blood of Jesus to every part of my life. Raise me to newness of life in Christ so that His righteousness will shine out from me in ever greater measure until that great Day when He returns and claims all His holy ones, presenting us to the Father as those who are blameless through His victory. Amen.

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