The people of God...
Illustration
Object:
The people of God had been in a state of darkness, but now the light has come. The command is to share that light.
In physics we are taught that darkness is only the absence of light. Turn on a flashlight in a dark room and immediately there is light, but there is nothing I can turn on in a lighted room that will suddenly darken it! Only light has power. God is light! Whenever he is mentioned in scripture, there is usually a shechinah or glowing accompanied with him.
We can enjoy light ourselves, but it is our job to share this light with others. If we have no light, there is nothing to share. Yes! There are some who try to share their darkness. Jihadists recruit the innocent so they will turn out the light in others through murder and suicide. We need to shine our light into their darkness. Everyone can see one little candle lit in a dark room and come to it. Light attracts others! It is true that some are more comfortable in darkness. We call them atheists. They are the dark holes in space.
Isaiah is looking ahead to the coming of the Messiah, who is the light. This is what we must share. If Isaiah can share that news before it came, how much more should we share it?
We see darkness in the world on television news. Darkness makes more interesting news than light. How seldom we see stories about wonderful things that are happening. The school shooting in Connecticut filled the news for months, but how many times do they mention the names of some who sacrificed their lives to save others? Do you remember the cases and names? We read and see every day how many are killed in battles, but how often do you read about some act of kindness by our troops? It is there, but do we remember it?
Our job is to share the light that God has given us.
There is a promise in our passage of great wealth on the horizon. We hope that will not be our motive for spreading the light. I have heard some pastors tell how God seemed to have answered the prayers of some members and provided all the money they needed. How seldom I hear them say how they have shared their wealth with those in need. They only proudly say how they have earned it.
Sharing our wealth is one way we can bring light to others. No, not the wealth, but the love they feel from us when it is passed on.
How can we make our light shine? That is one job the pastor can and should help us with. Then we should help our children share the light they receive in Sunday school and from every one of us! The wise men brought "samples" of their wealth to honor God's "king." We may only be shepherds, but we should bring what we can.
In physics we are taught that darkness is only the absence of light. Turn on a flashlight in a dark room and immediately there is light, but there is nothing I can turn on in a lighted room that will suddenly darken it! Only light has power. God is light! Whenever he is mentioned in scripture, there is usually a shechinah or glowing accompanied with him.
We can enjoy light ourselves, but it is our job to share this light with others. If we have no light, there is nothing to share. Yes! There are some who try to share their darkness. Jihadists recruit the innocent so they will turn out the light in others through murder and suicide. We need to shine our light into their darkness. Everyone can see one little candle lit in a dark room and come to it. Light attracts others! It is true that some are more comfortable in darkness. We call them atheists. They are the dark holes in space.
Isaiah is looking ahead to the coming of the Messiah, who is the light. This is what we must share. If Isaiah can share that news before it came, how much more should we share it?
We see darkness in the world on television news. Darkness makes more interesting news than light. How seldom we see stories about wonderful things that are happening. The school shooting in Connecticut filled the news for months, but how many times do they mention the names of some who sacrificed their lives to save others? Do you remember the cases and names? We read and see every day how many are killed in battles, but how often do you read about some act of kindness by our troops? It is there, but do we remember it?
Our job is to share the light that God has given us.
There is a promise in our passage of great wealth on the horizon. We hope that will not be our motive for spreading the light. I have heard some pastors tell how God seemed to have answered the prayers of some members and provided all the money they needed. How seldom I hear them say how they have shared their wealth with those in need. They only proudly say how they have earned it.
Sharing our wealth is one way we can bring light to others. No, not the wealth, but the love they feel from us when it is passed on.
How can we make our light shine? That is one job the pastor can and should help us with. Then we should help our children share the light they receive in Sunday school and from every one of us! The wise men brought "samples" of their wealth to honor God's "king." We may only be shepherds, but we should bring what we can.
