By: AJ Moreno
Growing up one of my least favorite subjects in school was math. It did not matter what kind of math class it was, but if it had anything to do with the subject it would make my stomach turn. Not for any reason such as being lazy or not wanting to show how I arrived to certain conclusions and answers. No. I disliked the subject because it always gave me the most troubles. It took more effort from my end to comprehend certain aspects of the class that other students could grasp just from one lesson. I remember countless days of staying after school for tutoring just to be at a passing grade while my peers were able to breeze through the course. My struggles continued with me even through college, and I dreaded taking a math course because in this instance it was not just like taking a class in middle/high school, this was a course that I paid for. Needless to say the stakes had been raised and it was time to put forth my best effort. I was able to secure a spot in a class that was taught by a professor Alvarez, he came highly regarded and recommended from other students who did not perform too well in the mathematical area. From day one in that course it was like being able to see clearly for the first time. He had made the concepts so simple for everyone to understand, myself include thankfully. One thing in particular I can remember when we were discussing parabolas and the quadratic formula (just don’t quiz me because I may not remember too much) is the concept of translation. What I can remember is simply that translation in algebra is when you move a shape to a different spot on the graph, and of course the math behind that is to find how much movement it made and whether in went in a positive or negative area of the graph. But something that can seem complex, really does not have to be. Translating is a movement from one place to another, easy right? When we look at Colossians 1:13 we can break it in half, so let us focus on that first part of the verse. “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,” Paul is writing to the Church at Colosse and starts the letter by letting them know that they are remembered in prayer for continued growth and faithfulness in the Lord. In the verse we are looking at who exactly is the “Who” it is referring to? Well if we backtrack to verse 12 it states “…giving thanks unto the Father…” So the verse is saying “the Father hath delivered us from the power of darkness. When thinking about darkness we see it as a void, a separation from light. There is either light, or there is dark. Another scripture that comes to mind that can be parallel to this one would be Matthew 6:22-23 Here Jesus is teaching the sermon on the mount to the multitude and is speaking on what real religion is. He states that “the light of the body is the eye” If we obey and follow what Jesus taught, we will be full of that light. Simply put. In verse 23 it says, “But if thine eye be evil, the whole body shall be full of darkness” Here we see the opposite, if we cannot do right by Him then we cannot have that light within us, instead it is darkness. Most importantly He states, “if therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” We cannot be in the dark void and be a part of the light at the same time, its impossible. Since darkness is the absence of light, there is none that exists within. If you skip to the next verse, Jesus says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other…” Either we are going to be a part of that darkness or we will choose to be a part of the light, not one foot in one place and the other spread to the other side. We cannot underestimate that darkness that is among us, although lacking the light it can be a powerful, meticulous trap that will get a hold of us and we may not be able to find our way out. If we are not with God we are not in the light. We are a part of that darkness that takes us further and further away from Him. Which takes me back full circle to the point in my little story at the beginning of this all. Translation. Movement from one place to another. Picture a mathematical graph with an X-axis and a Y-axis. It looks like two intersecting arrows that go on unto infinity. If we are the shape which is being translated and being moved, which way are we going to move? Are we going to translate to the part of the graph that is negative? Or are we going to make that movement in a positive direction? Let us look back at Colossians 1:13 but now focus on the second part in that verse, “and hath translated us unto the kingdom of his dear Son…” Before Jesus died on the cross and was risen after three days and ascended into heaven, there was no opportunity set before ALL of us, but because of that ultimate sacrifice that was made by Jesus Christ Himself, we can have that chance to become part of His Kingdom, His Church (Matthew 16:18) In the following verse we can read in Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even forgiveness of sins…” It is because of Him and only Him are we able to have that opportunity to come out of that darkness and come unto the light. If we are to be translated into the Kingdom of Heaven, into Christ’s church we have to firstly obey that calling that is set before all mankind. Acts 2:37 That prick in the heart, the realization that we are in the wrong and want to be in the right, we must obey the plan of salvation that is in effect. There is no other way that we can make that movement without fully obeying what God has commanded. And finally we must understand that there is only ONE way to get there. John 14:6 Without Jesus there is no way to make that movement into the Kingdom. “there is no way to the father but by me” Every single day we are given the freedom to make our own choices. Are we making those choices that reflect Christ’s instruction. Are we holding and exuding the light that is the love of our almighty God and sharing it unto others. Although the darkness may be powerfully frightening, the light will always prevail.