I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8.

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8.

Yesterday we heard a sermon from 2 Peter Chapter 2, where Peter reminded the people about God’s judgment in history past. For fallen angels reserved for judgment, for the ancient world that reached the tipping point so severe in sinning that God brought the flood as a reset, for Sodom and Gomorrah proud of their sins. For keeping the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Why do we need God’s judgment? As a warning. There is a way that leads to sin and it leads to every grievous harm we cause and bring to fruition. The way of the darkness of Satan. And then we wonder why is the world so bad, so unjust, so evil. If we are honest, we should wonder why not a flood now. And in our chapter, Acts 26, Paul is giving testimony to King Agrippa and those gathered with him to hear Paul. “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead? So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often, in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities. While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the regions of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am, except for these chains.” v. 1-29. King Agrippa and the governor and Bernice talked together and said, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” v. 30-32.

Why judgment? Because there is a difference between the Light of Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit – and the darkness of the dominion of Satan experienced in our own lives and in the lives of every person in this fallen world, then and now. And the judgments of God lead us to the truth and away from what is not truth…to open our eyes so that we may turn from darkness to Light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that we may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me. Judgment will come. God gives us His help now to see how beautiful is the Light of His Truth lived now with Him in His Love for us. Are you weary of the darkness of sin in your life and in our world today? Good! See it for what it is – the dominion of Satan. Turn to God. He is here. Always!