How do you respond to the darkness? Do you turn to food? Pleasure? Entertainment? When the fiery trial comes, and it seems that God has turned His face away from you, what do you do? Do you curse God and wish for death? Do you plunge yourself into hopeless despair? Do you flee into the refuge of health, wealth, and family?

Friends, the darkness is coming, if not already here. But all is not gloom and doom. As stated earlier, Jesus did say "In the world you have tribulation". He also said "Fear not, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

One day, you will die.

One day, you will experience your last heartbeat, take your last breath, lay your head down to sleep for the last time.

The last time you tucked your child into bed, may be the last.

The last time you said "goodbye" to your husband may be the final time you utter those words.

In the future you will sit down for your final meal. You will enjoy that last intimate moment with your wife.

The sound of your children giggling from the other room could be the last time you hear that, so enjoy it.

There will be a final cigar.

A final sunset.

A final birthday.

This is our position as Christians, dear Saints. The enemies of God are on all sides, being lifted up as the standard for good, while the people of God are being trampled down.  But take heart, for our God sits in the Heavens and laughs, and we know that the gates of hell cannot prevail against Christ and His Church.

That said, in all the exercising of our rights, we must remember that we are not merely citizens, we are Christians. We are Christians, and the exercise of the rights and liberties afforded us in the Constitution, must be guided by the Word of God.

Rather than tackle the problems facing us in our own hearts, homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces, we chase rabbits down holes, never finding the bottom, all the while oblivious to the sin swirling in our own lives.

Are you too righteous?

Think for a moment about the impact a shadow has on the world around it. It is weightless and without substance.  A shadow takes the shape of the thing which is between it and the source of light. A shadow is immaterial, cannot be felt, grasped and has no discernible impact on the physical world.

Now consider man. What would it look like for a man to live out his life as a shadow?

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.

Having an indifferent, apathetic, cold, uncaring heart is a danger for you young people who have grown up within the Church since your youth.