The greatest pursuit in life is the pursuit of truth. No one in his right mind would desire to live in lie or in illusion or in ignorance. To live apart from truth is to live in darkness. To live in darkness is to live in ignorance of who you are (identity), why you are here (meaning), where did you come from (origin), and where are you going to (destiny). And to be ignorant of your true identity, meaning, origin, and destiny, is really not to live at all. You may have an existence, like an inanimate stone or sand particle, but not life as it should or could be.
You are not better than a lifeless stone that doesn't know its identity, meaning, origin, and destiny, or a dog that cannot see beyond its fleshly appetites (for food, coitus, brawl, and sleep), if you live in such indifference and deafness to wisdom that cries "by the way in the places of the paths."
So some of us use various means in our strivings to follow after truth. For we somehow intuit that truth will set us free from our bondage. Philosophy, by general definition, literally means "love of wisdom." Philosophy is man's attempt to discover truth through the avenue of reason and logic. It is one of the ways that we use to try to discover truth.
Another one is science. Science basically means "knowledge" (from the Latin "scientia"). It refers to the empirical method of acquiring knowledge based on observation, research, repeatable experimentation, and the process of "trial-and-error."
There is also the way of religion. The ancient Greek language has the word that literally means "dread-demon" as the equivalent of the term "religion." This shows that the various religions of the nations had their origin in the dread that mankind had toward the unseen forces and unknown entities that inhabit the invisible realm of spirit.
Linked with religion is also the vast amalgamation of traditions, cultures, and practices that are the result of man's attempt to express his various interpretation of his kaleidoscopic experiences as they impact him in various ways.
There is no doubt that philosophy, science, and religion has had, each, their differing contribution to the molding of man's belief and character both for better or worse. But it is also obvious that centuries of man's exploration in these fields has still left him in the dark as before, if not worse.
Whatever the modern or so-called postmodern man may boast of as his accomplishments are nothing more than superficial advancement in the physical condition and outer aspect of his life. Better communication by cellphones, better transportation by airplanes, better entertainment by i-pods, and such. But all these also couple with and outweigh by more headaches, more anxieties, more competition and stress, more coldhearted indifference. And more time on the roads with lesser and lesser time with family, more divorce, more and more broken families, more abortions, more and more suicides, more and more drug related problems, more and more crimes.
This simply means that mankind's pursuit of truth throughout the centuries, except for a blessed few, has been a corporate failure. They are still no better than their forebears that before served voiceless idols, or at best, worshiped an unknowable God.
CHAOS AND VACANCY
"Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of Thy words gives life; it gives understanding unto the simple." (Psalm 119:129-130)
The opposite of darkness is light. And the opposite of death is life. Both darkness and death are negative states of lack (or absence). Darkness is the absence of light, while death is the absence of life. The state of darkness was a state of chaos and emptiness. No life exists in such total darkness and cold. Darkness and death unite as one in such dismal condition.
Genesis 1:2 describes such a condition that took place after creation: "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." (KJV)
This same passage concordantly translated, reads: "Yet the earth became a chaos and vacant, and darkness was on the surface of the submerged chaos." (CVOT)
This was indeed quite a sad and depressing state. This physical description of the material universe is a snap shot of what we find in the heart and soul of man when God withdraws and hides the light of His countenance away from us.
There was Chaos. What a description of what the world became then as a consequence of God's judgment on the work of the Adversary. Such was the hopelessness when darkness was allowed to have its way. Chaos, disorder, and total disarray is also an apt picture of the state of the heart in its unredeemed condition. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." (Mark 7:21-23, KJV) Nothing but darkness flows out from the human heart in the state of sin. Not a single ray of light (or goodness) comes from it until that moment that God in grace intervenes.
There was Vacancy. There was no light, no man, no animals, no birds of the heaven. Nothing to fill the space with noise of wail or songs of praise. Nothing but the deafening silence of emptiness. What a sad picture also of the human heart. "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations (reasonings, CV), and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," (Romans 1:21, KJV).
There was the Deep. This is metaphorically a symbol of God's judgment. "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; THY JUDGMENTS ARE A GREAT DEEP:" (Psalm 36:5-6, KJV) The flood waters of Noah's days came from the Deep as one of its source with the heaven (Genesis 7:11; 8:2). God also judged and drowned Pharaoh and his host by the waters of the deep (Exodus 15:4-5). Satan (the adversary) will be bound and incarcerated in the deep (the abyss) for a thousand years during Christ's reign with His blessed people (Revelation 20:1-4).
The deep could speak of God's judgment, but it could also speak of God's blessing under the mysterious alchemy of God's supreme power (Genesis 49:25; Deuteronomy 8:7; 33:13) that can turn evil into blessing (Genesis 45:5-8; 50:19-20). To Joseph was the birthright and fruitfulness transferred by God (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). The one who suffered (Joseph) became the deliverer from the famine both for his father's family and for Egypt (and the world) under God's mysterious providence. The greater Joseph, Who is the man of sorrows and the Suffering One (Christ), will be a greater Deliverer, in fact, the Light and Savior of the world.
THE ENTRANCE OF LIGHT
The secret why God can bring out light and blessing even in the midst of chaos, emptiness, darkness and the deep is disclosed as follows: "Yet the earth became a chaos and vacant, and darkness was on the surface of the submerged chaos. YET THE SPIRIT OF THE ALUEIM (Elohim, God) is VIBRATING over the surface of the water." (Genesis 1:2, CVOT)
Yes, the Spirit of God, which is always behind all God's activities, is the reason why even in gloomy darkness God can bring out light and blessing. God's Spirit is supreme power, intelligence, and life all in one. It is God Himself in dynamic action toward the accomplishment of His purpose to minutest detail and without failure.
Here in Genesis 1:2 the word picture refers to a mighty eagle or vulture (Deuteronomy 32:11) that flutters over her young to impart warmth that gives life and to protect. The Spirit of God vibrates over the surface of the water for re-creation and renewal. He sends forth His spirit, and they are created: and He renews the face of the earth (cf. Psalm 104:30).
What no mortals can accomplish, bringing light out of darkness and order out of chaos, God can through His omnipotent spirit. After His spirit had done its preparatory work, God only has to speak His word of command and all the inner and outer forces of reality will, in total obedience, do His bidding to the letter to the accomplishment of His supreme will!
Returning to our text above, Psalm 119:129-130: "The entrance of Thy words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple."
There is one simple saving remedy to darkness, and that is, for God to turn the light on. There is no use for us to bind or curse the darkness. We must recognize that GOD IS LIGHT. And His Word teaches us that He only needs to speak in the beginning - "Let there be light" - and the efficient result was? "and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).
What was true of the physical creation is also true of the new creation. God, after the necessary work of His spirit in us of which we have no part whatever (1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5), must first open our hearts, as He did Lydia, for us to be able to heed His words (cf. Acts 16:14). We are at the same time given new life in Christ (Ephesians 2:5 cf. John 5:24), and God begins to shine in our hearts, with a view to the illumination (enlightening) of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:6, CV). This, in other words, is divine revelation.
The knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is clearly the result of God's illuminating work in us. And this illumination (or spiritual enlightenment) only begins to take place when God, in grace and love, begins to shine within our hearts, dispelling our darkness away!
Oh this is something that is beyond our puny power! Nothing in our flesh or in us by nature has the capability to cast out the abyss of darkness in our empty hearts. We have no power in ourselves to overthrow the power of Satan, much less the law of sin and death that enslaves us. But God can, through His omnipotent Spirit. God can, through His crucified Anointed Jesus.
God can give you His righteousness as a free gift of His grace. He is, in fact, already conciliated with you through the death of His beloved Son (Jesus Christ). You only have to accept His conciliation through faith in His good news (evangel), His words, and you will have real peace with God. You will begin to experience real peace that passes understanding through Christ!
There is nothing for you to do or add to God's finished work through His Son. Believe God and His good news and you will begin to experience the blessing of His salvation.
"If ever you should be avowing with your mouth the declaration that JESUS IS LORD, and shoud be believing in your heart that GOD ROUSES HIM FROM AMONG THE DEAD, you shall be saved." (Romans 10:9)
