FESTIVITIES IN HOUR
OF DARKNESS

INTRODUCTION

Festivities in hour of darkness is prevalent as one focus on what is presented as gratifying to the soul with salvation of the soul placed in the background rather than exposing the penalty of a sinful nature.

There is an avalanche of ungodliness, through various electronic means, that promotes appeasement of the flesh, condemned in God’s Word, as the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes. Apostle John wrote: All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2:16).

It was noted the world signifies the evil desire and sin that has become a part of human existence. The lust of the flesh (physical desires), the lust of the eyes (personal desires), and the pride of life (self-interests) clarifies individual weaknesses of the human race since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6).

Festivities in Hour of Darkness
Apathy in the World

Festivities in the hour of darkness, is due in part to apathy in the world, leaving one unprepared for what lies ahead.  Scripture reveals: As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of man (Jesus' return).  They eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  

Likewise, as it was in the days of Lot, they eat, they drank, they brought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all; even so shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed (Luke 17:26-30).  It must have been terrifying to the people in Noah's and Lot’s day when total destruction became a reality; except for Noah and his family and Lot and his family.  In both instances the coming destruction had been forewarned of but ignored.

Vain Thoughts

In the midst of ongoing festivities in hour of darkness (sinfulness), the Prophet Jeremiah cried out: O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved, How long shall your vain (wicked) thoughts lodge with you (Jeremiah 4:14)? 

It was noted that such thinking today can arise from many sources: Absorbing immoral movies and television; carelessly surfing the Internet; listening to malicious talk; ignoring the Word of God; giving into a materialistic worldview.  A question was then asked: Will we allow the sanctifying Scriptures and the purifying blood of Christ to cleanse our heart and mind or will we persist in sin-filled thinking and experience God's judgment?

Today, there are those who are giving humanity’s vilest nature what they want to hear, justification to do exactly as they please with no regard to a Day of Reckoning. It was noted that the Prophet Jeremiah was continually mocked by the people for bringing nothing but words of condemnation, with his words enraging the people. He held his ground and was not afraid to give them unpopular criticism. In the midst of ongoing festivities in hour of darkness are there modern-day Jeremiah’s sounding the alarm?

Walking in Darkness
(Sinfulness)

The Psalmist wrote: They know not, neither understand they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course (unstable) (Psalm 82:5). This verse reveals that their eyes were closed to justice, choosing the festivities in hour of darkness (sinfulness), rather than godly reproof, and bearing the traits of ungodliness.  It was noted that if humanity continues to drift morally and socially during the next century as it did during the present one, we will sink into the abyss of total corruption and despair.

The festivities in hour of darkness are becoming more prevalent, and in some instances the church is failing in its God-given responsibility to sound the alarm, and even embracing the same characteristics. Apostle Paul wrote: You who teach another, teach not yourself? You that preach a man should not steal, do you steal? You that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery; you that make your boast of the law (Word of God), through breaking the law dishonor not God (Romans 2:21-23)?

Nations that Forget God

Festivities in hour of darkness (sinfulness) will lead one to what the Psalmist declared: The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God (Psalm 9:17).  Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men (Psalm 9:20).  It was noted that the Psalmist was referring to the wicked who forget there is a God; who are bold, impudent, and a fearless generation of men who fear not God.

Apostle John wrote: The light shines in darkness but the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:5). Festivities in hour of darkness have hid the light of the Gospel.  Apostle Paul wrote: If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (perishing); in whom the god of this world (Satan and his cohorts) has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

Loving Sinfulness

Apostle John wrote: This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; every one that does (practices) evil hates the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (exposed) (John 3:19-20).  Apostle Paul wrote: The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off (put aside) the works of darkness (sinfulness), and let put on the armor of light (salvation) (Romans 13:12).

It was noted that this world is attended by imperfection and darkness, errors and mistakes, in doctrine and conduct; however it is far spend and in a little time will be over.  Apostle Paul wrote: You are not in darkness (sinfulness), that that day (coming of the Lord) should overtake as a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:4). 

You are all (believers in Christ) the children (sons) of light, and of the day, nor of darkness.  Let us not sleep, as do others (those caught up in festivities in hour of darkness); but let us watch and be sober (ready for the Lord’s coming) (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6). John and Paul both emphasized the need to be ready; rather than be caught up in the ungodliness and sinfulness of man.

Immersed in Rebellion

A heavy darkness of idolatry shrouded Israel during the Prophet Elijah’s time; immersed in rebellion against God, turning a deaf ear to Elijah’s warning of impending judgment (1 Kings 17:1-6).  When people relish festivities in hour of darkness (sinfulness); they often scoff at the ideal of impending judgment, just as in the case in the pre-Flood days of Noah, and Sodom and Gomorrah.

Apostle Peter wrote: The world that then was (pre-Flood days of Noah), being overflowed with water, perished; the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word, are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the Day of Judgment and perdition (destruction) of the ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7). 

Apostle Peter than gave the reason why it has yet to occur: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (destruction of the ungodly), as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

After Their Own Lust

Apostle Peter revealed why festivities in hour of darkness (sinfulness) will not prevail: The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works there in shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10).

Will it not be as in the pre-Flood days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, which were destroyed by the hand of God? Apostle Paul noted a time will come (and now is) when they will not endure sound doctrine (teaching and preaching of God’s Word); but after their own lusts (desires) shall heal to themselves teachers (deceivers), having itching ears (appeasement towards sin), and shall turn their ears (hearing) from the truth and shall be tuned into fables (that which is fictitious) (2 Timothy 4:4).

Found Blameless

God’s Word readily states the need for salvation of the soul that we may be part of what Apostle Peter declared: Nevertheless we (believes in Christ), according to his (God’s) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness; seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot (sanctified), and blameless (2 Peter 3:13-14).

Peter then declared: Seeing you know these things before (beforehand), beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked (festivities in hour of darkness or sinfulness), fall from your own steadfastness; but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17).

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