day no. 16,240: Christian civilization will overcome heathen nihilism

"Alfred has come down to us in the best way (that is, by national legends) solely for the same reason as Arthur and Roland and the other giants of that darkness, because he fought for the Christian civilization against the heathen nihilism." - G.K. Chesterton, The Ballad of the White Horse

Christian civilization will overcome heathen nihilism. It will need to be defended and it will have to advance, but it will overcome. It is indomitable and inexorable. Christ has conquered, is conquering, and will conquer the entire world.

John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The gates of hell cannot prevail against the kingdom of God. The light will invade the darkness and the darkness will be transformed. It will either be illuminated or decimated, but in the end, no darkness will survive.

Revelation 22:5

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

But for now, we shine like cities on a hill and the greater the diameter of light, the greater the circumference of contact with the darkness. In other words, as the light grows in scope, the perimeter also grows. As such, it can feel like we are seeing more darkness than before. How can this be advancement when our borders with darkness are ever increasing?

1 John 5:4

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Everyone born of God has already witnessed a world overthrown. Their world within was deep, dark, empty and void before Christ shone His light in and overturned everything. When we look within, we see a world colonized and conquered for Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

So, we fight the good fight of faith and believe His promise that knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. We do not lose heart, because we have hearts that have already been overcome. We expect Him to do for the world what He has already done for us. It seems impossible, but how likely did it seem to you that you would worship Jesus... until all of a sudden, you did. Now for some there were signs and plot points which suggested it, but for others it happened all at once. Either way, they were won over and overcome by Christ... just like the world will be, one way or another.

"Therefore your end is on you,

Is on you and your kings,

Not for a fire in Ely fen,

Not that your gods are nine or ten,

But because it is only Christian men

Guard even heathen things."

- G.K. Chesterton, The Ballad of the White Horse

All things belong to Christ, including us. And all things, in Him, will one day be ours. So much so that even at this moment, it is the Christian men who protect the best of the pagan world. They are preserved and kept by us and for us. The meek will inherit the earth and no darkness there will remain; and the best of what was lent to the nations will be restored to the kingdom.