A Thousand Points of Light
Matt 5:13-16
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Darkness of south central LA
❏ Teenage gangs roam the streets–everyone lives in fear
❏ Drugs are available everywhere
❏ Prostitutes are on most street corners
❏ Violence abounds
❏ Crime is running rampant–there is darkness, gross darkness–a living hell!
Yet, in the midst of all this evil a light shines! On one of the corners a neon light above a building glows with the words, VICTORY OUTREACH! It’s a ministry devoted to reaching out to drug addicts, alcoholics and street people. Its headed up by a former gang leader who was converted to Christ.
He, along with a meager staff house about 40 men at a time in an atmosphere of peace and purpose, while chaos reigns in the streets.
Outside can be heard the sounds of darkness–gun shots, police and fire sirens, men and women laughing and cursing and screaming. But from within Victory Outreach comes the sound of hymn singing.
When I read about this, I thought it’s a “point of light.” Do you remember how President George Bush (sr.) used this phrase in his speeches? He was describing community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good.
This “point of light” in south central LA not only engages in evangelism but also attempts to help those who are enslaved to chemicals and other masters, break loose and in turn become salt and light.
Its not far a drive to Beverly Hills from south central LA. What a contrast! This is the world of “Entertainment Tonight” where everyone is fit, famous, and fabulous.
And here on a corner, towering over the traffic, is a huge sign that serves as well as anything to define life: LIFE IS SHORT. PLAY HARD. Its only an ad for Reeboks, but its such a short distance from a neighborhood where people are dying every day because they have lived out the logical consequences of that mind set.
Life is short. Play hard. Grab all the gusto you can. Whoever dies with the most toys wins. These supposedly harmless slogans summarize a world-view that says, “This life is all there is.” But we know better, don’t we?
In these two neighborhoods the choice is very clear: Either we remain blinded by the bright light of the world that masks a heart of darkness or we choose the Light that dispels the darkness.
Darkness - Light. Jesus had something to say about these. He said, I am the light of the world. He said it to the Pharisees. He went on to say, Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
Light is one of the great metaphorical themes running through the Bible. In the beginning of creation, God said, “Let there be light.” Then in the book of Revelation, we read about the Eternal City which is bathed in the light of God.
Jesus was the Light who had been prophesied for centuries. He was to be the revelation of truth to nonbelievers. And in Matthew 5 He charged His disciples, You are the light of the world. Then He added, A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
His followers are, He said, by their very character, the light of the world. They will do the same works He did–even greater ones.
The key thing about light is that its radiance can best be seen in the darkest places. What we do emerges from who we are. Being precedes doing. In Acts 1:8, just before Jesus’ ascension, He told His disciples:
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Please notice that He said we would be His witnesses. It reminds me of the words of Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel all the time; if necessary, use words.”
Sometimes, in order to be heard, we must be seen. We must be the gospel!
Lights shining out in the darkness, like candles that illuminate and warm and drraw others toward the one true Light.
Philippians 2:14-16: “Do everything without complaining or arguing,so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
as you hold out the word of life-- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.”
You are the light, Jesus said. Not, “You need to become the light.” We already are, by virtue of His presence within us.
So, as we come together, we form communities of light, just like Victory Outreach. And as we are faithful, wherever we go into the dark, we bear the light of Christ’s love.
Millions of Christians are doing just that. Consider a few examples
1. Annie Howard
❏ In 1991 she was awarded one of President Bush’s “Thousand Points of Light” awards for her Prison Fellowship volunteer work in the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women.
❏ Holds choir practice in the prison chapel, has an evening Bible study, hosts a dinner for 6 volunteers in her home–all in an evening!
❏ All the women at the prison know Annie. They know she doesn’t get paid to do this. They know she loves them. It doesn’t matter to her what they have done. She treats them all equally.
❏ Its dangerous work. She feels the presence of Satan. She feels the battle for people’s souls–like a battle between darkness and light!
❏ The award Annie received from President Bush is a heavy medallion with a stylized candle on it. Its on a gold chain, designed to be worn around her neck. Not the sort of thing you’d wear to the grocery store.
❏ But Annie doesn’t need to wear a big gold candle for people to see her light. They know she represents Jesus. They can see Him shining through her.
2. Sherry Woods
❏ Works in one of the toughest places in Washington, D.C. You can see the Capitol Dome from the streets of Shaw Neighborhood, but the decisions made by Congress don’t seem to have much effect on the citizens of this neighborhood. They’re just trying to survive the dangers of their everyday lives: drugs, shootings, and hopelessness.
❏ Sherry manages the “Unique Learning Center” at Third Street of God–a ministry devoted to tutoring children from that neighborhood.
❏ Many of their “graduates” are now in college. Sherry is investing a good part of her life in these kids.
3. Beverly Barnwell and Jackie Russell
❏ Every Saturday morning, they deliver food to people in the needy neighborhoods around their church in south central LA.
❏ Ask thest wo women about their work and their faces light up. They start laughing and crying and talking so fast that thy can barely breathe, telling all that God has done.
❏ They pick up food on Saturdays from a Christian organization that provides wholesale groceries for relief ministries. Its 19 miles to San Pedro to pick up the groceries. They can’t take the expressway because once they get their car loaded up, it won’t go the minimum 40 mph.
❏ They have reported a miracle–started out with 1/4 tank of gas, went to San Pedro and back, delivered all the groceries and still have 1/4 of a tank! It’s a God thing!
❏ They take very good notes in the A.M. worship service the Sunday before, then preach them at almost every stop.
❏ They are two points of light–shining for Jesus!
4. John Shuring
❏ Former successful contractor in Kalamazoo area.
On the Board for Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.
❏ Several years ago, when the director resigned, John volunteered his services.
❏ A huge man with an even bigger heart. He left his business to serve thes men and women. The mission had grown greatly under his leadership.
❏ The people that frequent the Mission are not just those who are alcoholics. They are the homeless, and in many cases, former patients at the state mental hospital.
❏ What would possess a man to take such a difficult and often frustrating ministry? Its because the Light of the world is in him and that light must shine forth!
5. Pastor Dave Terhune
❏ Pastors the Pinellas Park Wesleyan Church in Pinellas Park, FL.
❏ Always has had a heart for the less fortunate. He wants his light to shine.
❏ Did you see his story in the Advocate?
❏ Bought an old bicycle at a garage sale–worked hard on it over a period of weeks. He completely restored it and was so proud.
❏ Began going with some other men to an area of the city where homeless folks gathered. They gave them food, blankets, that kind of thing.
❏ One day, he was visiting with a man there who had a job interview but had no way to get there. Dave began thinking about that bike he had just restored. He didn’t want to part with it, but felt the Lord was telling him to give it to this man. So he did. The man got the job as a result, then bought a car and started attending the Wesleyan Church and eventually gave his heart to the Lord.
❏ Pastor Dave told the story to his congregation and the people started bringing their bikes to the church and they were taken to the homeless. Now, if you were to drive up to the Church, guess what? You would find perhaps a hundred bikes parked outside the church!
In a world full of shadows, its sometimes difficult for us to believe we can really make a difference. Sometimes our little lights seem small indeed.
Sometimes the darkness looks overwhelming. But throughout the history of the church, the people of God have shone out as a community of light that cannot be extinguished.
In a thousand and dim arenas of need around the world, the light still shines in the darkness–and the darkness cannot hold it back!
Closing Blessing (Terri McPherson)
You are a child of creation, a reflection of God,
No one can steal your beauty or reduce your worth,
Unless you let them...don’t let them!
You are a miracle of God’s love...
Never look at yourself and see anything less!
Your life is not a random stroke of chance,
You are a part of a Sovereign plan,
Love into existence...loved for an eternity.
So, let the fire in your soul live,
And laugh and leap with joy!
And for the short time you walk upon this earth remember...
That you are the light of the world!
