Out of Darkness

By James Clarke

This book is a compilation of mini devotionals and poems originally intended for "Covenant Call" our monthly church magazine. Much of the subject matter comes from personal experiences or pressing questions of a spiritual nature. I do not have all the answers. Some of the work is influenced by my teaching and military careers. And of course, I try to use humor whenever possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781642146226

James Clarke

James Clarke is the author of Movie Movements: Films That Changed The World of Cinema and a number of other film books. He has contributed to Empire, Imagine, Resurgence and Classic FM and has lectured on the subject of film at the University of Gloucestershire and the University of Sussex.

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Mini Devotional No. 1

Why Are You a Christian?

Why are you a Christian? Have you ever wondered how you would answer that question, especially if posed by non-Christians? If you immediately quote scripture or parrot the words from a sermon, you might just turn them off. After all, they may have heard all that before. The question directed to you is asking for a personal answer, specific to you only. After all, we were not created on some sort of assembly line where we all had the exact same experience when we became a Christian, spouting common dogma.

For some of you, it may truly be external—that is, a combination of reason, education, or maybe some philosophical ideology. Maybe you came to grips with the age-old question of creationism vs evolution. For others, it may be more emotional with an internal feeling that God has talked to you personally—that special feeling that the Holy Spirit touched you and has entered your heart. Or it may be a combination of any of the above.

The question transcends religion. It should have nothing at all to do with your being Presbyterian or Catholic or Mormon. Do not use this occasion to try to convert the person who asks this question. Do not get in a will of words. Do not try to use logic or reason. You cannot save anybody. Only God can change minds and hearts. It is best to simply explain your own experience and what being a Christian means to you personally and how God has entered your heart and answered your prayers.

When the pastor of a Southern Baptist Church invited us to come forward to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, I felt the Spirit, move within me, and I went forward. It was not because of the sermon or anything my friends or relatives had said. It was also nothing I had read in the Bible, and to be honest, I had not really gotten much into the Bible. It was totally a leap of faith then, and it continues to be faith. I had believed, in my heart, that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. No one person was responsible for my belief. It was personal to me. And as I learn more and more about the Lord, that faith is deepened and is as an anchor to my life.

I truly have a new relationship with God, a new life through Jesus Christ—a new hope and a certainty of life everlasting. With Him as my Lord and Savior, this relationship is one borne out of unconditional love, not subjugation of the masses. I have been changed on the inside. It is a rebirth. I have never been more happy or experienced more joy and peace of mind in my life. And I have never experienced so many blessings from above. Amen

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 )

Mini Devotional No. 2

Life Support

When we think about life support, we often conjure up being tossed a lifeline when we are drowning or, more commonly, being hooked up to all kinds of tubes and medical equipment under life-threatening conditions. I experienced the latter when my life’s partner passed away. It was heart-wrenching, to say the least, when the decision had to be made to disconnect that equipment and pull the tubes. You realize at that time the process is irreversible and that she is going to a permanent sleep. The saving grace is the knowledge that she has been called home and is no longer in pain.

This is why we have the Advance Care Directive. We know that it is their wish to not be a slave to any life-support system. Even so, it is very difficult to take that step. I believe that it takes a lot of courage to face up to that task, to free them, to let them go home, even though it might be tearing you apart emotionally.

As I was reliving that experience, an interesting thought entered my mind. During my daily walk and talk with the Lord, I told Him how much I needed His guidance and presence in my life. I realized then that He was my personal life-support system! My very reason for living. I realized that I needed Him for sustenance, for my feelings of happiness and for my ability to love Him with all my being and to love my neighbors as myself, for my ability to lead the kind of life He would have me lead, for my friends and my family, and for the many blessings He has bestowed on me.

Yes, now that I realize that I am on His Life Support System, I fear not death. For when that day comes and I am called home, I will also be set free. And such a glorious day that will be.

But I trust in you Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. (Psalms 31:14–15)

The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. (1 Samuel 2:6)

See now that I myself am He! There is no God beside me. I put to death and I bring to life. I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver from my hand. (Deuteronomy 32:39)

Mini Devotional No. 3

The Three Most Powerful Words in Any Language

Before you read any further, can you guess? Take a moment. So as not to keep you in suspense any longer, the three most powerful words in any language are I love you! These are words that never get old. These are words that you should be saying every day—to your husband or wife, to your son or daughter, to your grandchild, to your niece or nephew, and especially, to your small children. Let them hear it every day. It will be much easier to for them to one day say I love you, Mommy and Daddy. Remember, these words never get old.

Do you remember the Jesus Creed? You are to love the Lord with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength. I am sure that you do. How many of you, though, actually tell the Lord of your love for Him daily? Also remember, He had to ask Peter three times, Do you love me? Don’t wait until you meet Him face-to-face for Him to ask you that question. He wants to hear it from you now. These three words that never get old.

And finally, to complete the Jesus Creed, And the second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. We don’t often have opportunity to say I love you to a neighbor. And I am probably just as guilty of that fact as anyone. All of you in the congregation I consider as my church family. You are also my neighbors. And to each and every one of you, I say those three words that never get old, I love you.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. (Lao Tzu)

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend. (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:4–7)

Mini Devotional No. 4

Is That All There Is?

Have you ever pondered the question Why was I born? Not too many people want to go there because it evokes several other questions. Why was I born in America and not Africa or Asia? What is my purpose on this earth, if in fact there is a purpose? The easiest answer for Christians is that God has already made those decisions for us—and long before any of us were born. Was the purpose that you were born to become a doctor, a teacher, or a plumber? Was the purpose that you were born to become a minister or an unfortunate soul on skid row? If God made the decision that a person was born to be a rice farmer in Japan, does that answer the final question why he was born?

Another question that may confront the inquisitive mind is, as we are born, we grow up and grow older and then we die. Is that all there is? We believe that we are on this earth what seems like a very long time, for the sake of argument, say, seventy to one hundred years. Scholars have theorized that Adam and Eve lived on this earth from 120,000 to 200,000 years ago. If we compare our existence to that total sum, it calculates from .035% to .005%. In intergalactic measure, this amounts to a blip in time. Is that all there is?

Fortunately, we do have an answer. We were put on this earth as freethinking individuals. We were given choices to fulfill our potential. God had put us here because he had a plan for us. But we still had to make the commitment. We had to seek Him and believe in the sacrifice of His son for our sins to be able to allow Him to lead us to that potential.

Why was I born? To serve and follow God. My life, even though a blip in time, is nothing more than my preparation for eternity. Is that all there is? Absolutely! It is more than enough.

God hath given to man a short time here on earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends. (Jeremy Taylor)

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun for the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. (Ecclesiastes 5:18)

Time

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us but a breath. (Psalms 39:4–5)

Mini Devotional No. 5

Is It a Sin to Be Selfish?

We think of people who always want things their way as selfish. Do it my way, or don’t do it at all. The dictionary (Webster) defines selfish as concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself; seeking or concentrating on one’s own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others.

We all have known people who fit this description at one time or another in our life. It can certainly be frustrating to try to figure out how to relate to such people, especially if they are family. Most youngsters exhibit fits of selfishness until they are corrected by their parents.

But is it a sin to want something exclusively for yourself? In my daily walk and talk with the Lord, I was praying for some close friends, whose names I shall not mention. And the prayer went something like this:

Lord Jesus, I am praying for the children who received my Samaritan’s Purse gift boxes for Christmas. I feel that I am a surrogate father to them. Lord, they are very young and innocent. I ask you, as their Father, to protect them wherever they are in this world. Lord, do it for me. I love them, Lord, and I am so concerned for their safety even though I do not know where they are.

Is this selfishness a sin? Maybe so. Maybe not. I was once told that when I pray I should be persistent. In my mind, I am pleading with the Lord for something that I desperately want and not taking into account any consideration that His will or plans might be somewhat different.

I also look at it this way. If it is already determined what is going to happen to us, if everything is preordained, then what is the purpose of prayer? It goes against Ask and ye shall receive. I firmly believe that God answers prayers. I