“Post tenebras lux” is the Latin phrase that means "After darkness, light” It was one of the rallying cries of the Protestant Reformation. This motto symbolized the rediscovery of Biblical truth in the 16^th century after a period of spiritual darkness. It can be found inscribed on the famous Reformation Wall that was erected in Geneva, Switzerland to honor the Protestant Reformation and its leaders, including John Calvin. The phrase is also inscribed on the Huguenot Monument in South Africa to commemorate the settlement of French Protestants who suffered severe persecution for their beliefs.

Matthew confirms that when the Lord Jesus moved His ministry from Nazareth to Capernaum on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee, He did so in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah (Isa. 9:2): “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined” (Mat. 4:16, NLT – New Living Translation quoted throughout). This region of Galilee was inhabited by the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. The region’s location in the north meant that it would have been the first to suffer from the Assyrian invasion (2 Kin. 15:29). These people lived in an area where death cast its shadow. But the Lord Jesus, who is the Light of the world (Joh. 8:12) came and dwelt among them.

There is, also, a wider fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy to come. The Lord Jesus promised His disciples: “And the Good News [gospel] about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations [peoples] will hear it; and then the end will come” (Mat. 24:14). The Great Commission that the risen Christ gave to His Church (Mat. 28:18-20) will surely be fulfilled! This is awesome good news if we pause to consider the present state of theology in the world today.

The global map below shows a highlighted region that lies between 10 deg. – 40 deg. North latitude.

This region covers North Africa, the Middle East and much of Asia. It stretches from Morocco in the east to Japan in the west. Christian missionary groups have long identified this geographical zone (the 10/40 window) as a critical gospel target for several reasons.

First, it is estimated that two-thirds of the world’s population live there. Second, this area has the most unreached people groups – people who live and die without ever hearing the gospel! Some estimate that three billion people in this zone have never heard the good news of Christ! Third, this zone of great spiritual darkness has also become known as the “Resistant Belt” due to its widespread political instability and severe restrictions to preaching the gospel, such as anti-conversion laws and the banning of Bibles. This could explain the low level of missionary activity in the zone.

How do we respond to this description of the 10/40 window, which includes the nation of Israel? We can learn from the Lord Jesus, the God-Man, who walked among a people that sat in darkness in Israel. “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields’” (Mat. 9:36-38).

Look at India, for example. It is recognized as the most religious country in the world; nevertheless, a country that is filled with false religion. Many Christians who visit India attest to feeling like the Apostle Paul when he passed through Athens (Acts 17:16). Paul was “deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere”. India is now the most populated country in the world, surpassing China in recent years. Churches there face many challenges.

It is in this context that we should understand and appreciate our Pastor’s recent visit to India. We sometimes hear exciting news of church planting among the unreached peoples but, in most instances, we don’t get many details about the content of the gospel that is taught in those churches. There is always a danger of syncretism creeping into churches in these dark areas of the world if sola Scriptura is not emphasized and taught. The Apostle Paul showed great concern in his Pastoral Letters to Timothy and Titus for the teaching of sound (healthy) doctrine in the churches that he planted (1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 1:13; Tit. 1:9). This is the critical task that our Pastor would have executed among the Pastors during his time in the subcontinent. May God use his work to keep the Indian Pastors grounded in His Word and produce much fruit to His glory.

Spiritual conditions in the 10/40 window may be daunting, but the Lord’s hand is not shortened to save. In addition to spiritual poverty, this zone is also marked by material poverty, corruption, and natural disasters. Reports indicate that a significant amount of youths now have a desire to escape this satanic death trap. Some analysts attribute the desire to the increased access to social media, which provide more freedom to examine and question their religions with relative safety. The Apostle John’s vision will be realized: “a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9). In the words of the hymn writer, Isaac Watts, we should be encouraged to pray:

“Pity the nations, O our God!

Constrain the earth to come;

Send thy victorious Word abroad

And bring the strangers home”