God's Light Shines in this Dark World
What does it mean when you see light bulb over someone's head in a cartoon? It
means that a person has an idea. Wiley Koyotè figured out a new way to get rid
of the Road Runner, or the inventor has a brilliant idea for a new invention.
But why do cartoonists use light bulbs as a symbol for a new idea? What is it
like when the lights are out? Imagine being in a hurry! Where's the
furniture? What is going to whack your shin? What if there's burglar?
When the lights are on, you know where you are and where you're going. That's
why cartoonists use light bulbs to symbolize new ideas. An inventor with an
idea knows what he's going to make, & sees where he's going.
Think about walking in darkness. Does that sound like fun? Maybe you're
afraid of the dark. It CAN be very scary. Isaiah wrote about "people walking
in darkness." Spiritual darkness. People who didn't have any idea of where
they were or where they were going. Frightened and lonely people.
The world is a very scary place. Even though we have lights everywhere the
world is still scary. It's been pretty quiet since September. Does that make
you happy; or scared? Osama bin Laden doesn't have a monopoly on fear. Last
week a disturbed bus driver carted a dozen kids to Washington DC with a shotgun
under his seat.
The world we live in is scary. It's dark with the darkness of sin. Sinful
people hurt others with their selfishness. Not only are we walking in
darkness, but each one of us HAS darkness inside of us. The fact that you are
a Christian doesn't mean the devil will leave you alone. Actually it means he
looks more for your weaknesses. It's his goal to make you stumble, & fall back
into spiritual darkness.
How do people try to get out of the darkness? Some drink a lot of alcohol or
take pills and try to forget how dark things are? That leads to more trouble.
You'll ruin your health and the lives of others around you. Others stay busy,
or fill their lives with people or things.
Then come accidents, a crisis, maybe even coming face-to-face with death. When
you try that way to get out of the darkness of sin and fear, you'll run right
back into the land of the shadow of death.
So, some feel it helps to change our attitude about the darkness of the world.
Maybe celebrate the darkness, or imagine that darkness is actually better than
light? Forget all commandments and laws, live as we please, and live without
that shadow of guilt always over our heads. Be proud of our lifestyles without
being "judgmental".
NO. That doesn't work either. That's nothing more than calling good 'evil'
and evil 'good.' The LORD has spoken His final word on what is evil and what
is good, what is darkness and what is light. When we live as if God's law no
longer applies or it's old fashioned, then we are telling God that He no longer
matters to us. As we try to grope our way out of the darkness on our own, we
only go deeper into the land of the shadow of death.
God doesn't disguise the darkness when He speaks to us in His holy Word. He
won't pretend that the darkness is better than light. Instead, He shines His
light on the people who walk in darkness.
Isaiah's prophecy says: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great
light." Not a flicker. Not a twinkling little star you can only see with a
telescope. A GREAT light. Greater than the sun. His light leaves no room for
the darkness - like the light on the first day of creation. His light is His
love. The Light is Jesus.
We saw this pure light in the manger - God Himself has come to earth to show
His love. We see this pure light in Jesus' teaching - "Repent for the kingdom
of heaven is near." That's like saying: "Let go of the darkness. The light is
here."
His pure and perfect light helps us realize how dark our darkness really is.
God calls us to repent so we can leave darkness behind & experience His light
in His forgiveness.
King David sang, "The LORD is my light and my salvation." God calls us into
His light because He wants us to be HIS people. If we are in the light, we see
where we're going.
John wrote, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to
have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by
the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from
all sin" (1 John 1:3-7).
In the light, nothing is hidden. The light is our connection to God. St. John
calls living out our faith "having fellowship with Him."
When we shut ourselves off from our God - staying away from His house or from
His Word, we aren't walking in His light. We stop being in touch with God -
and we excommunicate ourselves.
When we decide to do our own thing - living exactly like the people of the
world - with the same T-shirts, same bumper stickers, same music - not
reflecting the glory of the Cross of Christ, but rather reflecting the darkness
of the world, then we are choosing the land of the shadow of death. When we
walk in God's light, we reflect His light, His love, His peace, His joy.
Peter wrote, "God called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." (1
Peter 2:9-10). Isaiah says: "On those living in the land of the shadow of
death a light has dawned" (1 John 1:5) "God is light; in Him there is no
darkness at all". There is no fear. No stumbling. No bumping into things.
When we hold on to the darkness, then we stumble and fall. But God picks us up
when we fall. He lights the way.
What is your personal darkness? Your worst personal fear? Your worst failure?
God comes with His light and forgiveness and drives out the darkness. Never
again fear the dark. There's no need to fear the dark. Jesus came to earth to
bring you into the light.
We are the people who formerly walked in the darkness of this world. We still
live in the land of the shadow of death. But we have seen Jesus - God's great
light. His Good News has called us to repent of darkness and believe in the
Light.
The message of Jesus was repent. To repent means to believe in the total
forgiveness of the cross of Christ. To confess your darkness of sin; but to
all the more confess the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.
To repent is to live so others may see your good works in Christ and receive
their benefits, and then glorify our Father in Heaven.
God's Light is more than a brilliant idea; or a light bulb drawn over someone's
head. God's love shines on our darkness and fills us with holy light. May His
Word so move us to repent, to believe, and to live! Amen.
Pastor Michael Harman, St. Peter LCMS - Newell, IA
vacancies at ... Immanuel, Pomeroy and First Evangelical, Fonda
Yet another retread sermon, this time from 2002 (which my records indicate
follows an outline from 1993?). Read for your own enjoyment.
