"Back When"

They horseback rode where e’er they went,

And letters carried words they sent,

And slower then the time was spent,

Different way back when.

I wonder in that slower day,

If we went back could hear them say,

What they thought ‘bout our today,

Compared to way back when.

Would we surprise them, I think so,

By just how far we let things go,

Away from God, and what we know,

Was how they lived back when.

They were not perfect, we know that,

Had their faults, and fell down flat,

But seems they knew where up was at,

They repented, way back when.

Instead of saying wrong is right,

Or insisting that the dark is light,

Proclaiming that the day is night,

Compared to way back when.

When what was true seemed very clear,

Gender didn’t seem so queer,

And to the Bible they’d adhere,

That’s how they thought back when.

Maybe we could soon return,

And from the past somehow relearn,

And get from God a brand-new burn,

The fire from way back when.

‘Cause if we don’t I have the fear,

That what we have and still hold dear,

Will be stolen, gone from here,

The truth from way back when.

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5;8, NLT)

The theme of light and darkness is a strong one throughout scripture. Once we were full of spiritual darkness, characterized by selfishness and idolatry. Now we have received the Light of the Lord. The encouragement of the apostle is to live as people of light! What does this mean? It means that we do not compromise with the darkness nor are we controlled by it. We live our lives on purpose and in keeping with what the Bible says is right. And we do so in the power of the Holy Spirit. None of us are perfect, but it’s all about our surrender to Jesus and the direction He leads us. Are we cooperating with or resisting His voice? Do we embrace His light or keep the closets of our lives tightly closed against it? God’s light drives out all our darkness.

Lord, fill us with Your light, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Steve Devenyns, used by permission. Thanks, Steve, and God bless you.