(Introduction to meditation was from Creative Communications for the Parish’s dramatic introduction, ‘This Lenten Road: The Road to Damascus’ © 2004 by Creative Communications for the Parish.)
(1) Many years ago along one of our coasts a Navy Captain looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send this message "Alter your course 10 degrees south."
Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north." This made the captain very angry because his ship was the flagship of the task force and the admiral, his commanding officer had just come to the bridge.
So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south—this is Captain ‘So and So’ of the USS ‘So and So’! The Admiral noticed the Captain’s demeanor had become agitated and began to pay attention to the unfolding events and communication.
A quick response from the other vessel was received. "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am seaman third class Jones.” This enraged the Captain even more and made him more aware of his CO’s increasing interest in what was taking place.
Immediately the Captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south—this is the USS ‘So and So’ a battleship."
There was a noticeable delay in response. Finally after a nearly 60 second pause this reply came. "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a lighthouse." The battleship changed course.
(2) Light has many uses and is a powerful tool for a wide variety of tasks. They are (click) used for public safety and search and rescue on helicopters and rescue vehicles designed to find those lost at sea or track criminals fleeing from law enforcement. Light (click) makes working and worshipping easier although there is something about candle light at Christmas time that makes electric lights appear out of place.
(click) Light is also making possible advances in dental care. An article at engadget.com indicates that dental researchers have discovered ‘that blue light coming off a halogen lamp is highly effective at killing’ the bacteria that cause tooth and gum decay without killing the good bacteria that helps digestion of food.
The article goes on to speculate that ‘it will be particularly beneficial to those who don’t like using a toothbrush.’ Those responding to the article made the following comments, ‘Laugh all you want, but as someone with constant gingivitis despite brushing, flossing, and 4 trips to the dentist a year for cleanings, I would welcome anything that helps.’
‘I think the logical extension of this is a toothbrush with the blue light built in. After all, there are already disposable electric toothbrushes.’ So, if this development proves true, then… (3) Every time we go here (click), we can learn to use something like this… (Click), and maybe less of this… (Click).
Even the fiber optic strands we see in this slide are another example of how light is useful to us. Who would have imagined how a thin strand of light would transmit voice and other data at a great speed?
(4) In the Bible light represents the presence of God in the midst of darkness.
For example, in the third verse of the entire Bible, Genesis 1:3 we read (click), ‘Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.’ God creates light and from there begins to organize our world and universe because until He says, “Let there be light,” the earth was, as we read in verse 2, ‘a formless mass cloaked in darkness.’
(5) In the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5, Jesus again uses light as a metaphor for the presence of God in the midst of darkness. Except this time, He personalizes to His disciples by making it clear that (click) “You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. (click) Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.’ We become, as followers of Jesus Christ, the light to others. We embody the Christian faith and message to others by the way we act, talk, and live. However, being that light, as we go on to read, exposes us to ridicule and persecution because light attacks the darkness and shows what the darkness of human existence is made of. Paul is a case in point. At the beginning of our main text, we see Paul reacting to the light of Christ in the lives of those that he had arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. Yet that light would finally stand across his path and knock him down.
This leads us to a third passage in which the word ‘light’ illustrates this principle. (6 and click) In John 1:1 and following we read, ‘In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.’ John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.’
Jesus Christ is the light of the world. His life, His godliness, His ministry, His death and resurrection, everything about Him says light. Moreover, it is light which gives life to every human being that accepts the forgiveness of sin and salvation made possible by what we remember today.
In all of these verses, God is bringing order to His creation and to the souls of humankind because His light is an indication of His presence in this world. This brings us to our main text for this morning.
(7) In our main text, light represents the power and will of God who uses us in spite of us.
In our text for this morning, light becomes a tool in God’s hands to alter the direction of a person’s life. In this case, Saul, who would be come known as Paul is ‘thrown off his ‘high horse.’
Notice what our text says about Paul and his state of mind in Acts 9 verses 1 and 2: ‘Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath. He was eager to destroy the Lord’s followers, so he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.’
Paul is a danger to the church and the believers. He wants to wipe out the Christian faith and the Church. He believes that Christians are warped and misguided and need to be put in their place. Years later he admits to this in Acts 22:4, ‘And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, binding and delivering both men and women to prison.’
But, God, through an act of light, brings Saul down to earth and to Him. It is a dramatic act, a dramatic conversion. Yet, God would not allow Saul to continue with his plans and He put a stop to it.
Have you ever heard someone say, ‘I saw the light?’ It is used as a statement about coming to reality. Paul certainly saw it. He experienced the power of God in a flow of bright light. His blindness left him powerless and requiring the support of others to help him.
This leads me to my concluding thought for this morning. (8) Either the light of God will lead us or it will blind us. It will knock us off our high horse. It will humble us.
It depends on what our condition and attitude is toward God and toward spiritual matters.
God’s power and purpose will either be fulfilled in us or frustrated in us. It is our choice based upon obedience and surrender or disobedience and self-centeredness.
Do you find yourself on the Road to Damascus? Is your pride, your selfishness, or your willfulness keeping you from experiencing God’s great purpose and power in your life? Get off your high horse before God knocks you off.
I think of Peter this morning whose brashness of staying the course with Jesus got him a sharp rebuke from Jesus Himself. Peter, in a moment of fear and weakness, was knocked off his high horse as Jesus told Him that he would be. However, as with Paul, Jesus would go to get Peter and bring him back to Him as well.
This morning, as we prepare for communion, I invite you to let Jesus come, get you, and bring you home. Don’t resist Him in this matter, let Him bring you home.
Amen.
Power Points for this sermon are available by e-mailing me at pastorjim46755@yahoo.com and asking for ‘030506 svgs’ Please note that all slides for a particular presentation may not be available.
