“The light of the body is the eye. If, therefore, your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light. If, however, your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matthew 6:22-23).

Single (Def): (Gr.): Haplous: One from braiding or plaiting together; union, to fold together

There is a blessedness in the eyes, especially the eyes that are fixed on Jesus, the Light of the World. Having the eyes fixed on Jesus brings His Light into the whole body whether of an individual or a Body of Believers. Having the union, the braiding together of our hearts with the singleness of the heart of the Father produces a singleness in the Spirit that brings to life the nature and fulness of Christ Jesus in our lives that shines in stark contrast to the darkness that is in this evil world and all around us today.

Solomon made the astute observation in his writings:

“Wisdom excels folly as far as light excels darkness” (Ecclesiastes 2:13).

It is to the wise who see the folly of darkness and who come to the light. Jesus said of condemnation:

“This is condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God” (John 3:19-21).

The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed:

“Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1-2).

How Great the Darkness. Isaiah says the darkness in our world will be a “gross darkness”. It will be a thick darkness that will drop down and cover the people, descending upon them as a tyrannical force, like locust covering the sky blocking the sunlight and overshadowing the earth and overwhelming them.

Why will this darkness come? It is because as Jesus told us, the “eye is evil” and “men loved darkness rather than light”. Only the wise will fix their eyes on Jesus and shine with His light. The foolish will dwell in their folly and be overtaken in their evil deeds.

Jesus said of His own ministry:

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day, the night comes when no man can work” (John 9:4).

How Great the Darkness. More and more we are seeing the tyranny of darkness and just how great the darkness can be. On every side we see the gross darkness covering the people, from government, the corporate world, the media, entertainment and the violence of individuals in society, we see just how great is that darkness.

What is the escape? What is the remedy? It is the same today as it was in the days of the Apostles, as Peter declared to the people at Pentecost:

“And with many other words did Peter testify and exhort, saying ‘Save yourselves from this untoward generation'” (Acts 2:40).

Yes, the darkness is great. Yes, gross darkness is covering the people. But light excels darkness, and the Apostle John has written:

“In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness comprehends it not” (John 1:4-5).

Darkness cannot overtake the light for the light excels. Darkness cannot possess, apprehend, or seize the light, for the light overcomes it as wisdom excels folly. Light is triumphant, victorious and glorious in splendor and overcoming power.

Let us keep our eye single and continually fixed on Jesus. Let us walk in His Light, the Light of Life, and remember always our message which we have come to believe and preach to the world:

“This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare to you, that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. . .and if we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5,7).

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