Post Tenebras, Lux

Before the Protestant Reformation, Europe was smothered under the darkness of the Roman Church’s superstition and dogma. Anyone caught translating the Scriptures into the language of the people was sentenced to death, the people were held captive under works-righteousness, and the Church taught blasphemous teachings such as purgatory, indulgences, the veneration of the saints, and absolute papal authority. Corruption, immoral wickedness, and hypocrisy had infiltrated at every level.

In the midst of this darkness, the Swiss city of Geneva created the motto, Post tenebras spero lucem (I hope for light after darkness) which was taken from the Latin translation of Job 17:12. But as the Protestant Reformation began to sweep across Europe, they changed the motto to Post Tenebras, Lux (After Darkness, Light) because their hope had become reality.

Scripture began to be translated into common languages, people began to read, ask questions, and declare the Gospel of free grace once more. The light of Sola Scriptura had dawned upon Europe, and that light tore the temple veil of the Roman Catholic Church in half. God’s Holy Word broke its chains; grace threw off her man-made traditions. The Sun of Righteousness had finally broken the horizon and the Roman Church was powerless to stuff it back down. The Protestant reformation forced the darkness to give way to the light of the glorious Gospel of peace; salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, by Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.

We live in vastly different times than the Protestant Reformers, and yet we are under darkness again. In our age, women demand the freedom to turn into men. Vast numbers of human lives in embryonic form are flushed down the toilet every year. Every June, nearly every city in America flaunts the rainbow in God’s face, daring Him to flood the world again. We are so desensitized to our own wickedness that the news that a pedophilic death cult has infiltrated every level of our government is almost an afterthought.

And the state of Alaska, for all its vaunted “freedoms”, is not any better. Corruption and nepotism runs rampant in every level of government and law enforcement. We have countless churches with barely any Christianity in them. We have the most beautiful land in the country, and yet our buildings are grey rectangles and log cabins almost buried in junk with “no trespassing signs” posted every five feet. Abortions are available by mail to any spot in the state. Demonic influence is nearly everywhere you go, including in the Christian institutions. We are like the synagogues of Jesus’ day; demoniacs are in our midst, but we have lost the authority to cast them out.

Where is the Church in this darkness? Where is the prophetic thunder announcing, warning, exhorting, and rebuking? The Church in America has grown weak and hollow. We wring our hands over all the evil, but we have adopted a losing mentality and so we don’t do anything, we don’t risk anything, we don’t build anything, and we don’t expect anything. And when a prophet does arise, thundering out of the wilderness, we shush him down with accusations that he’s judgmental and that he needs to work on his winsomeness.

If, as MacArthur put it, “down here we lose”, then we have no responsibility for the present darkness. But Christ’s word is clear; if there is darkness in the world, it is because we, the light of the world, have allowed it. We have put our light under a basket and then complained about the darkness.

And what is this light we have been given that answers the darkness of the world? It’s the Gospel of the sovereign Author sending His Word, His beloved Son, to enter into the darkness and conquer it from within.

Throughout the Bible, darkness represents chaos and non-existence. Before God shaped it, the world was unformed darkness (Genesis 1:2). This darkness represented chaos and lawlessness, which, incidentally, is what sin is (1 John 3:4). Then came those glorious words, the very first declaration of creation that overcame the darkness of sin and lawlessness; “Let there be light.”

This pattern, first the darkness of chaos and sin, then God’s light entering the darkness, is straight Gospel, and this pattern repeats itself throughout the entire Scriptural story. The darkness of the flood gave way to the light of the rainbow. The darkness of Joseph’s imprisonment gave way to the light of exaltation to the right hand of Pharaoh. The darkness of slavery in Egypt gave way to the light of the pillar of flame. The darkness of Golgatha and of the tomb where they laid Jesus Christ gave way to the light of New Creation three days later. This is how God writes His stories; after darkness, light.

This is the declaration that the Church must begin proclaiming again. Jesus Christ has come back from the dead, the darkness has been defeated, and every knee shall bow to His inevitable grace. He is the bright morning star, the dawn of the world, and the crowning light of Alaska. His death and resurrection is the answer to all of our American sins and all of our Alaskan sins.

Thus, Post Tenebras, Lux is our invitation. Come you who dwell in the darkness, come now into the light of Christ. Come and receive the forgiveness freely offered in the Gospel, for the light is coming which will expose every deed done in the dark. Awake you sleepers, awake from the dead, forsake the night and the deeds done in it, and enter into the joyous day of our Creator’s everlasting and abundant life.

Post Tenebras, Lux is also our battle cry which informs our enemy, that ancient dragon, that we will no longer listen to his lies. We are God’s battering ram against the gates of Hell, and those gates shall not stand against the onslaught of morning. Just as Egypt gave way, so too must Hell give way. We have called upon the Lord of Hosts to rise up and scatter far the shades of night, to break the teeth of the devourer, and to usher in His glorious kingdom of light on earth as it is in Heaven.

And lastly, Post Tenebras, Lux is our rallying cry for all those who have been dreaming of and praying for reformation. Come, all you lovers of the light, come and worship your Risen Lord in the beauty of holiness! Come and behold His wondrous works. Come and swell the ranks of His army, for we go to war against unbelief, against all the wicked works done in the dark, and against every vain thought raised up against the Lord Almighty. Come and join His heavenly choir, and add your voice to the heavenly hosts who sing in never-ending praise, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!” Come and put your hand to the plow, for the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Come all you who are weary of the night, for joy always comes with the morning!

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.