When we consider the last two plagues that the Lord brought about in Egypt (Exodus 10, 11, 12), we see that each plague got literally closer to home. Now it is touching nature, and touching families.

It is not my imagination. I can feel it getting darker all the time. I never thought I'd live to see the day in which the President of the United States will be forced to alter the Constitution to affirm that marriage is between a man and a woman. This is sure to be one of the defining issues of the 2004 presidential election.

Terrorists are trying to acquire nuclear bombs. American troops are deployed in harms way. The tide of radical Islam threatens the security of the entire world. And yet we have to stop and deal with something as fundamental as the way God created us.

We have to take polls to see if it is acceptable for a pop singer to sleep with little boys, while his sister props up her career by exposing herself to millions of onlookers. That this stuff happened is bad enough. That we are so confused about how to react to it is truly scary.

There is already a plague released upon the firstborn of this perverse generation. There are dark days ahead. It falls to us who claim to walk in the light, that we "shine forth as stars" (as Paul put it) "in the midst of a perverse generation."

As we gather around God's word, let it be with hearts that are willing to be changed. Surely the darkness is the only place to shine. Surely we have come to our position in this dark place for such a time as this.