The Significance of the Resurrection, (Easter), in This Age of Godlessness

The Kingdom of Light Versus the Kingdom of Darkness

In the verse above the Apostle Matthew uses a prophecy of the coming Messiah in the book of Isaiah and connects it to the ministry of Jesus declaring Him to be the Messiah. The Israelites in the time of Isaiah had rejected God and His covenant and were living in a time of spiritual darkness. God’s judgment fell upon them which brought the conquest of Israel and the death of many. The people were experiencing a time of great sadness and suffering. Isaiah offers some comfort for them by giving them God’s promise of a coming savior who will bring redemption as a light illuminating the darkness. That light which came upon the world was Jesus Christ, and His light still shines in the world through His gospel. If there is a message that is needed for the world this Easter, then this is it.

The world is experiencing an increase in wickedness and evil. The rise in pagan worship and the rejection of God is causing the spread of spiritual darkness upon the earth. In relation to this is the rise in hatred and conflict which has resulted in wars bringing much death. It can then be said that in these current times there are many who are sitting in darkness, and there are many who are sitting in the land and shadow of death. Where is the hope for these people? Where is their deliverer? The hope for a world that is in rebellion against God, is the Kingdom of God—-And the deliverer is of course, Christ. As Matthew explains in his Gospel, Christ is the light that dawned through His resurrection. He is also the light that can deliver those who are in darkness if they accept Christ by faith. They will then be transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness and into the Kingdom of Light.

“This present evil age is dominated by evil, wickedness, and rebellion against God. Satan is the ruler who exercises his influence on the world to keep the lost in darkness and is seeking to avoid the light of God’s Kingdom. He is the god of this age (2Cor. 4:3-4), only by the permission of God’s sovereign rule and for His divine purpose. Satan has been given a great amount of latitude in exercising authority in the world as evidenced in the book of Job. This authority is the root of the ungodliness and evil which permeates the present age.”

The Kingdom of God was established on the earth by Christ through His ministry and work, (Luke 4:14-21). The Kingdom of Satan now had an adversary which threatened it, and would eventually defeat it through Christ. Jesus explains this concept in John 12:31, “Now judgment is upon the world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” The Kingdom of God, also referred to as the Kingdom of Light, is the fulfillment of prophecy where deliverance from the effects of sin and death was promised. No longer were people doomed to the Kingdom of Darkness, hope was now found in the Kingdom of Light.

---

The Light of the World

Many of the problems of the world can be attributed to the conflict between the kingdoms of light and darkness. However, the battle seems to be shifting in favor of the Kingdom of Darkness as the number of people rejecting God and His church increases year after year. The polls and research give evidence of this fact. Add to this the judgment of God on a rebellious people where He relaxes His restraint on evil, and the forces of darkness are able to operate more freely. The result is clearly seen by the rise in evil, pain, suffering, and immorality. The Kingdom of Darkness is able to keep more people in bondage in their kingdom due to their rejection of the Light. They desire the darkness more than the light, (John 3:19).

But here is the crowning achievement in this drama of deliverance, victory has already been achieved. The darkness has been overcome through the arrival of The Light of the World. He is the hope for those are distraught by the growing darkness surrounding them. The Kingdom of Light is still on the earth opposing the Kingdom of Darkness, and now it shines even brighter in the face of greater darkness. This time of darkness is only for a season, and God is using it to magnify His glory through the death and resurrection of His Son.

The Easter Message

When Jesus walked the earth during His ministry here, he saw the great suffering of the people through sickness, and disease. He also felt compassion for them because they were lost and had no shepherd. He responded by saying this to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest,” (Matt. 9:37-38). This is the message that the Church should be proclaiming this Easter, along with a more spirited preaching of the Gospel.

Those who are lost in the Kingdom of Darkness need to be rescued. The light of the Gospel of Christ is the instrument of their salvation. Believers who are servants of the Lord are the laborers who are needed to go out into the harvest field and bring those lost persons from the darkness and into the Kingdom of Light. Let your light shine in this rebellious world that is embracing the darkness and be led by the Spirit to proclaim Christ as the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings.

---