John 1:10-11, New International Version

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

One evening as I was watching a detective movie produced in Europe, one of the characters who was from Russia mentioned that she had a lucky necklace made from a snake tooth. She noted that tooth kept her safe and blessed. Immediately, a question came into my mind: How could people believe that a snake tooth could possibly protect them from harm and danger in the future? Then another question came to my mind: There are many who so easily believe in lucky charms but why do they not believe there is a Creator who created them? They do not believe that there is a God who has control of everything. Yet they believe that saying “good luck” or “break a leg”, or other positive phrases or thinking can turn things around. Again, but they can’t believe that the Word of God is active and alive. He so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son to come and to rescue and to give us everlasting life.

I kept digging down to understand the unbelief. Is the message “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17, NIV) too good to believe? Is the message “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV) too hard to admit for our pride? Or the truth that says “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:22-24, NIV) Is this too harsh of a conviction to carry? I believe that there could be much more reasons we can find, but the answer is revealed in the Word of God: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4, NIV) The god of this age – the murderer who came to kill, the thief who came to steal, the liar who came to destroy, the prince of this world – Satan (the adversary, the accuser), the devil (the deceiver), the enemy of God (lies against the truth, death against life, evil against good, darkness against light). (John 8:44, John 10:10, John 14:30) He is simply being who he is and working out of his character to blind the minds of each and every one through manipulation, temptation, deceiving lies, and wicked nature – from who God truly is and who we truly are!

This is not about how powerful the god of this age is, but how blind we are that we don’t even recognize his scheme and tactics. Should we be concerned as believers to know our loved ones and many others are still under his influence? Hear this: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4, ESV) And remember this: “The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, Amplified Bible)

Do not give up but hold up the hope that is in Christ – be the light in the darkness (John 1:5), so many may see Christ through the demonstration of your love for one another. (John 17:21, Matthew 5:16)