Choosing Darkness

“Then watch out that the light in you may not be darkness.” Luke 11:35, NAS.

Teaching English has given me many relationships with students who have become very dear to me and my family. Perhaps the closest and dearest relationship I have is with a young man that I’ll call Billy*. He has come so close to choosing to follow Jesus on many occasions, and each time his family would call him to return home to a neighboring island. Yet he always comes back. But this time when he returned what he shared with me has me even more concerned for his spiritual welfare.

Although Indonesia is a Muslim country, many of its people dabble in the occult. While Billy was away he started having dreams and visions that scared him and which even caused him physical pain. The people where Billy was working told him that a powerful demon lived in the area. This information scared Billy even more.

When he returned to our city, instead of coming to see me, he went to a special group led by a “holy” man, which in reality is an occultist or witchdoctor. The man told Billy that he had achieved a higher level and was closer to God. He confided that the spirit in him was stronger than the spirit that was harassing Billy so he could protect him. However, before he could help Billy, Billy had to go through several steps. One of these steps included sitting in a dark room that Billy described as “darker than a totally dark room.” The spirits would enter and move around the room. Then Billy was told to repeat God’s name 5,000 times a day like a mantra. He was told these things would help him understand God and prepare him for the next level. After doing this for six months, he should then fast.  Then, he will know God better.

I reminded him that we had studied that only God's Word is true. If any person, including me, says anything that does not conform to God's Word, it is absolutely wrong. I asked him where this man’s words were mentioned in God's Word. Billy admitted that it wasn't, but he kept talking about his experience. I encouraged Billy not to put his experiences above the authority of God's Word.

After talking about his experience for a while longer, I clearly presented the gospel to him, pointing out that Jesus is the only way to God. This man claimed that he was like the power cord that connects to the source of power that is God, and he can channel the power to Billy. I again asked Billy, “Can this man’s claim and what the Bible claims both be true? The Bible says that we can only approach God through Jesus.” Billy’s response was that it was hard to know the right way.

The conversation about the path to the next level seemed to be full of darkness. I directed Billy to read about Jesus being the Light that came into the world. We read several verses from John 3, and I commented that these people seemed to be choosing darkness and not light. We also read Luke 2:29-32 where Simeon prophesied how Jesus was a light for revelation to the Gentiles. Jesus is always Light and Life, I concluded.

Billy said that he wanted God to reveal Himself to him in a dream. I reminded Billy that God may choose to do that, but He has already revealed Himself to Billy and the rest of us through God's Word. Billy quoted the Koran about us being able to know God. So I quoted the Koran where Jesus says all people must obey His commands. Then I asked Billy, “Where can we study the commands of Jesus?”

“In the Bible,” Billy replied. Billy gladly accepted my offer to pray over him. I asked God to keep Billy from the powers of Satan that want to confuse him from knowing the truth. I asked God to protect him from the evil spirits that he fears. Again I encouraged Billy to read his Bible so he can know Jesus. As we concluded our conversation, I felt deep sadness at the strangle hold the enemy has on these people whom I have come to love.

*Name changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

God will reveal Himself to Billy in a way he can understand.

God will protect Billy from demonic harassment.

Billy will follow his friend’s advice and keep reading the Bible so he will know Jesus.