It was a few days
before Christmas on the Oregon coast. Two men whose families lived next door
opted to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. An unexpected
storm surprised the weekend sailors. Before long, the sea became angry, and the
two had a difficult time keeping the sailboat under control.
While heading
toward the harbor, the craft hit a sandbar and grounded. Both men jumped overboard into the icy water
and began to push and shove in an attempt to get the sailboat into deeper water.
Knee-deep in mud and repeatedly bounced
against the hull by unfriendly waves, the one guy looks over to where his
battered friend is struggling to stay afloat and says: Sure beats Christmas shopping, don’t it?”[2]
I hope you’re
done with Christmas shopping, malls, irritating sales pitches, and the frantic
search for the perfect Christmas; it was perfect only
once! That was when the light that was
good came into the world. It was when
God stepped into His creation in a cattle feeder…and this light was REALLY
Good News.
In the Genesis
account we find that God’s original creation was still in chaos, in darkness;
but then He said, Let there be light.
And the darkness was chased away.
Chaos became order, and light revealed the beauty of God’s design, and
of His life. Jesus came to chase away
the darkness.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness can never extinguish it.
John 1:4-5
John wrote to
drive a wedge between darkness and light forever. For us that means His light brings the kind
of life that is eternal.
So, this morning,
let’s take a closer look at the reality of what God did with the light that
was, in God’s own words, good.
Reality of our Creation – Good
In the creation
account we see God speaking things into existence, and then speaking commentary
over that creation. When God’s words echoed
into the nothingness of what didn’t exist, the cosmos, skies, planets, suns,
moons, and the very hairs on our heads came into existence…and then God
pronounced it as good, VERY good!
But, given the
creation to possess and care for, it didn’t take long for us to mess it
up. God’s very good
creation suffered the darkness of our sin.
The reality of God’s creation was good, but the stewardship of humankind
was dark and selfish. And that is the
reality of our culture…dark!
Reality of our Culture – Dark
The people who
walk in darkness will see a great light.
Isaiah 9:2a
The metaphors of
dark for evil and light for good are a continual warning and hope in
Scripture. Our culture with its death
fascination, school shootings, abuse, wars, violence, and separation, is dark,
and growing darker all the time. It is
like the black hole of space is swallowing up anything that resembles light.
But there is a
promise in Isaiah’s words that light will come, and we who have ever flipped on
a light switch in the dead of night know…when the light comes, darkness must
disappear.
This, then is the
reality of the promise against the darkness – there is a cure, a balm in
Gilead, a Savior; the reality of our cure is love.
Reality of our Cure – Love
For those who
live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. Isaiah 9:2b
Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble. Then your
light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as
bright as noon. Isaiah 58:10
But God showed
his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still
sinners. Romans 5:8
In the same way
that the positive, good example of Jesus healing, blessing, and giving himself
for us all leads us to follow Him, so great love teaches us to love.
Years ago our
family was driving to a restaurant after church, when we spotted a sign in the
back of a car window.
Its simple message was: I HATE YOU. I remarked to Elizabeth how odd it was that someone would
be so ugly; or maybe that it was a sick attempt at humor. I passed it off as just an odd thing. Then, on the way home from dinner, the same
car was right in front of us. As I
pulled up behind it at a stoplight, and got a good look at the sticker, I
noticed that it had been hand made. The
man had taken the time to cut-out the letters, and carefully glue them on a piece
of cardboard box.
I don't know what
life has held for a young man who felt the need to convey such a message to all
who follow him, but it got me to thinking about Advent. The coming of Christ to a pile of hay in a
borrowed stable was the statement of God to the whole world, I LOVE YOU!
It is this message of love on the cross that changes us. And when seen in our actions that message
changes others. And when a whole group
of us manage to get this loving others thing right it can be overwhelming in chasing the shroud of darkness
from the culture, one life at a time!
That is overpowering grace, poured-out without measure. Consider what the apostle John said about how
God cares for us:
Reality of our Care – Overpowering
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
can never extinguish it. John 1:5
A simple lesson
in the realities of our physical existence will suffice. Anytime darkness and light come into the same
space it is light that will remain. This
is because darkness is simply a void of light.
The smallest light will rush into the void of darkness, and the dark
must flee…instantaneously…at the speed of…well, light!
Light changes
everything.
God Came
For God, who
said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our
hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus
Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
The evidence of
God’s approval of change is to be found in the manger and cross. The fact the Gospels proclaim is that God is
the initiator of our salvation. There
was never a plan B.
The apostle John wrote about Jesus as being the lamb slain from
the foundation of the world.[3] Before Adam was crafted of the mud by God’s
own hands, God knew the need for our salvation, for His cross. And God created us anyway, knowing the cost
would be God laying the sins of the world on Jesus. He came for us. And He cleanses us with his light and love:
God Cleansed
Scripture is
clear about how that cleansing happens. This before the world was created gift
of God’s gracious plan of salvation is God’s way of asking for our cooperation
to receive this gift. We confess – that
is to say we say the same thing God says about our sins…we
are guilty and need forgiving. Then He
takes over completely, forgiving, forgetting, cleansing and blessing.
If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
And, once
forgiven, we are told to live into that reality. Just like your mother used to tell you on a
Sunday morning that your bath had made you clean, it was now your
responsibility to stay that way, God tells us he has removed the darkness, so
we should live in the light.
For once you were
full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! Ephesians 5:8
This God Who
changes everything came for us, cleansed us, and calls us:
God Called
But you are not
like that, for you are a chosen people.
You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness
of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1
Peter 2:9
We are called to
live as chosen, holy, and light-changed people.
There’s a reason for that. Our
living is to be priestly. That doesn’t
mean you have to go out and buy a robe, complete with hood and clerical collar,
preach the sermon and live in a parsonage.
Rather we live a message of hope, surrounded by the light of Christ.
God Blessed
I saw no temple
in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon,
for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The
nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city
in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end
of day because there is no night there. And all the nations
will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil
will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and
dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of
Life. Revelation 21:22-27
Pastor Max Lucado
has a modern parable that says it so well,
Long ago, or
maybe not so long ago, there was a tribe in a dark cold cavern. The cave dwellers would huddle together and
cry against the chill. Loud and long
they wailed. It was all they did. It was all they knew to do. The sounds in the cave were mournful, but the
people didn’t know it, for they had never known joy. The spirit in the cave was death, but the
people didn’t know it, for they had never known life.
But then, one
day, they heard a different voice. I have heard your cries, it announced. I
have felt your chill and seen your darkness.
I have come to help.
The cave people
grew quiet. They had never heard this
voice. Hope sounded strange to their
ears. How can we know you have come to help? Trust me, he answered. I
have what you need. The cave people peered through the
darkness at the figure of the stranger.
He was stacking something, then stooping and stacking more. What
are you doing? one cried, nervous.
The stranger
didn’t answer. What are you making? one shouted even louder. Still no response. Tell
us! demanded a third. The visitor stood and spoke in the direction
of the voices. I have what you need.
With that he
turned to the pile at his feet and lit it.
Wood ignited, flames erupted, and light filled the cavern.
The cave people
turned away in fear. Put it out! they cried. It
hurts to see it.
Light always hurts before it helps, he
answered. Step closer. The pain will soon
pass. Not I, declared a voice. Nor I, agreed a second. Only
a fool would risk exposing his eyes to such light.
The stranger
stood next to the fire. Would you prefer the darkness? Would
you prefer the cold? Don’t
consult your fears. Take a step of faith.
For a long time
no one spoke. The people hovered in
groups covering their eyes. The fire
builder stood next to the fire. It’s warm here, he invited.
He’s right, one from behind
them announced. It’s warmer. The stranger turned and saw a figure
slowly stepping toward the fire. I can open my eyes now, she proclaimed. I can see. Come closer, invited the fire
builder. She did. She stepped into the ring of light. It’s
so warm! She extended her hands and sighed as her
chill began to pass. Come, everyone! Feel the warmth, she invited.
Silence, woman! cried one of the
cave dwellers. Dare you lead us into your folly? Leave us. Leave us and take your light with you.
She turned to the
stranger. Why won’t they come? They choose the chill, for though it’s
cold, it’s what they know. They’d rather
be cold than change.
And live in the dark? And live in the
dark.
The now-warm
woman stood silent. Looking first at the
dark, then at the man.
Will you leave the fire? he asked. She paused, then answered, I cannot.
I cannot bear the cold. Then she spoke again. But
nor can I bear the thought of my people in darkness.
You don’t have to, he responded,
reaching into the fire and removing a stick.
Carry this to your people. Tell them the light is here, and the light is
warm. Tell them the light is for all who
desire it.
And so she took
the small flame and stepped into the shadows.[4]
The light –
receive it, share it.
But, you’ve got
to come close to be part of it -- come right up and carry the light!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…Amen!
[2] Jim Kane on SermonCentral.com
[4]Max
Lucado,
A Gentle Thunder, (Dallas,
Word Pub., 1995), 181-183
