A Great Light
As we near the Christmas season I want to continue with the theme of light. A few weeks ago I talked about the star that shone over Bethlehem and the wise men that followed the sign in the heavens. We talked about the signs that exist today in the night sky and about Jesus returning for us someday soon.
We will soon begin our Advent services and candles will be lit each week as we near the great celebration and proclamation that is Christmas. I say proclamation for it is just that the Lord of Lords and King of Kings is making a public announcement to all subjects of the realm. That announcement is that light is coming into the world. Light is a very important part of our celebration for what it represents and for what it provides.
Todays scripture passages are familiar ones. But I wish to present them too you in a different context. It is one that I had not seen before and so God wants me to share it with you as He has put it on my heart. Isaiah tells us that the people are living in the land of the shadow of death. This phrase caught my attention when I first read it and I was immediately drawn to Psalm 23 where the same language is used by David.
Both men knew and understood what darkness truly meant. Our world is continuing to walk in darkness. It is the darkness of sin that people all over the world allow themselves to be trapped by. Darkness is the thing that separates us from the presence of God. It is the darkness of our hearts, the darkness of our minds and the darkness of our souls.
Not many of us enjoy the darkness and in fact as little children we request a night light to comfort and reassure us. What comfort and reassurance is it that we seek? We want to know that all is well, that we are safe, and that nothing will catch us by surprise that may threaten our safety. Jesus has come to end the threat of darkness and to usher us into a new and wonderful light, the light of Gods love, mercy and grace.
You would think that people who find themselves vulnerable to the effects and limitations of darkness would want to be set free from it but oh no; that is not the case.
We seem determined to bump into things, groping in the dark, reaching out in an effort to find our own way without the aid of a light.
Im sure you have all done this too. I know I have, I have tried to walk around in the dark only to bang my knee or smash my toe or my foot as I went. Sometimes the pain was so intense Id let out a horrific yell. Jesus wants to show us a way to avoid that pain forever.
Life as Ive experienced it can be a lot of bumps and bangs and loud words caused by all kinds of pain along the way as we try to travel in the dark. The great news is that it can all be avoided and we can be given safe passage leading us away from the dangers that lurk in the dark.
A little background about the land of the shadow of death:
Isaiah 9:1
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan
David Wilkerson
The Cross and the Switchblade
Writes on September 22, 2001
At the time that Isaiah prophesied, God had been dealing patiently with Israel for about 250 years. The Lord had sent light afflictions upon his people, calling them to repentance. He was trying to woo them out of their brazen idolatry and back into his blessing and favor.
All of the prophets throughout the years had spoken to Israel the same essential word: Humble yourselves. Scripture says, They served idols yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes (2 Kings 17:12-13).
But Gods chosen nation rejected his call to repentance. They would not hear, but hardened their necks (17:14). These people mocked the prophets who called them to humility. And, instead, they followed vanity, and became vain and they left all the commandments of the Lord their God and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel (17:15-18).
The Lords first wake-up call to Israel came in an invasion by Assyria. This arch enemy attacked two Israelite provinces, Zebulun and Naphtali. Fortunately, the attacks were limited to these two points, and the damage was minimal. Yet God was clearly speaking to his people. The Lords chosen nation lost their sense of security. Yet they still missed the message God was speaking.
Israel then received a second wake-up call. This one was very severe. Two nations whom Scripture calls the enemies of Israel the Syrians and the Philistines combined forces for a sudden attack. According to Isaiah, this attack came from both before, and behind (Isaiah 9:12). This means the invaders came from the east and the west, surrounding Israel. And their sudden attack was totally devastating.
Mr. Wilkerson was using this passage in reference to the September 11, attacks on the United States. But we need not look at a country we can look at our own lives to see how dark we have allowed them to become.
Friends has God been dealing with you in a gentle way trying to lovingly get you to return to His light yet you resist? Have you heard message after message from preachers trying to convince you to step out of the darkness yet you continue to stay put willingly banging into all kinds of things as you make your way through life.
Well know this from the example that David Wilkerson puts forward. God will not always be gentle. True the lion will one day lie down with the lamb but remember that the lion has teeth and claws. God has the right to use what ever means are necessary to push us out of the darkness, out of the valley of the shadow of death. Do not try His patience and mercy.
Some people wait until they reach the end of that valley, until they reach their death bed before considering reaching for the light. Do not wait that long, surely you can not enjoy the darkness that much?
The darkness forces us to move at a snails pace to avoid the inevitable collisions of life. We move slowly physically so as to avoid impact. We move cautiously emotionally to avoid more hurt or disappointment, we move slowly in relationships not wanting to take them further.
We do all this while deep in our hearts we really want to move quickly in these areas but the darkness that surrounds us prevents us from doing so. We are prisoners.
The wonderful news for you and I today is that millions have moved from the darkness you now live in and they have seen a great light. They have been drawn to that light for many reasons. The light exposed to them the futility of the darkness. The light repelled the darkness and overpowered it. The light freed them from their prison and their chains fell off.
John 1 NIV
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.
John 3:20 NIV
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
John 8:12 NIV
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Isaiah 9:2
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
I will be the first to admit that when you have been in a truly, truly dark place that having light hit your eyes can cause you real discomfort and you will open your eyes only a little because you can not bare the brilliance. As you continue in the light you will find your vision will adjust and you will see things clearly, things that you could not possibly see in the dark.
The light will allow you to do something you could not do while in the darkness. You will be able to walk without hitting things; you will be able to see ahead of you a path that was previously concealed by the darkness.
You will notice that you are not alone as you may have thought. You will find a guide who will protect you, comfort you and lead you through all the dangerous terrain. You may not avoid all the dangers ahead of you but you will now have help and a clear vision of what to look out for.
23 Psalm
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Jesus is the light that we all seek this Advent season. We like the wise men seek the light of His natal star and the light of His divine face. We seek to be freed from our dark world that causes us to stumble and fall and to be led by the light of His word, His life, His death and His resurrection as we too come once more to the tiny village of Bethlehem.
Let Jesus set a fire in your heart so bright that it will compel you walk with Him out from the darkness and into His light.
I do not know your circumstances, I do not know your trials, but I do know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light by which you can be freed from what ever darkness has you a prisoner.
Is it a broken heart, a broken relationship, an addiction or habit that you struggle with? Do you feel unloved or unwanted in the dark place you occupy? There is one who loves you as no one else can for He created you and knows you intimately.
Open the door that separates you from Him today and walk in the light. You need not suffer any longer, you need not cry out in pain from all the bumps and bangs life has given you. Step into the light of His love.
Step before His manger and see that He is meek and lowly, humble and gracious. His mercies are new every morning; he will restore your soul. He will lead you to green pastures and you can rest and find new strength to continue your journey. Do not travel alone.
Matthew 11:28
28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Let us pray.
