February 25, 2024
Morning Service

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Power goes out in the middle of the night, it’s pitch black in your house and you try and make/feel your way around. Its uncomfortable, unnerving and not real safe. Oh you think you know where everything is until your little toe comes in contact with the edge of a chair leg. Some of my fondest memories were camping while in Boy Scouts. About every night would lead to some kind of hide and seek type game in the dark. It wasn’t bad right near the campfire but once out into the woods there were all sorts of obstacles. Tree limbs smacking your face, feet tangled in vines, tripping over rocks and logs…oh what fun! Then there is snipe hunting. Give someone a sack, take them into the darkness and tell them everyone will scare the snipes to them and all they have to do is put the bag over them. Being in the dark can be scary, it’s unknown, sinister and foreboding. Darkness is simply the absence of light. Darkness can’t hang around where light is present. 

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Sounds simple…darkness doesn’t understand light so it goes away problem solved! As default we are born with the old sinful nature and if nothing is ever done that’s all we will know. We are basically in darkness so we have to bring light into our lives.

John 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

This is Jesus speaking and he is telling us how to overpower this darkness, or change the default setting. We all know as we have been taught many times what needs to take place.

Jesus says in Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 

And this in John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

So once we accept Jesus as our Savior and are baptized then it’s all good and the old sinful nature is gone right. You may be shocked to know it doesn’t go away. It’s always there lurking in the background. David Jeremiah has this little poem that fits so well… 

Two natures beat within my breast,
the one is foul the one is blessed.
The one I love the one I hate
the one I feed will dominate!

Let that sink in. It truly illustrates what happens when we give more attention to one aspect of our lives as opposed to another. Ever have a hobby or particular interest that you gave much of your free time to then over time just became disinterested and stopped keeping up with it? I was once a stamp collector and while interested I learned all I could, went to shows, purchased guide books and stamps. After I moved on to other hobbies I fell behind in the learning process and didn’t keep up. Typically what we deem important is what we devote most of our time to therefore that particular part of our life grows and flourishes. That sinful nature is always there and if we give in to it then it will gradually creep back in and get much of our attention. Stay close to the light as the further away you drift the darker it becomes. An object between you and the light puts you in a shadow and you’re not getting full benefit of the light.

Ephesians 5: 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the [b]Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 

Thieves and all sorts of evil doers prefer the cover of darkness to do their deeds as it’s easier to stay hidden and gives the one doing the deed confidence that what they do is secret. Light exposes evil.

Matthew 5: 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Luke 8:16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 

Let your light shine, be the light that someone needs and is searching for. Dr. David Jeremiah said in one of his broadcasts once not to complain or regret coming to someone’s aid in some way as you may be the answer to that person’s prayer. Again the verse in Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Be the light, the answer to someone’s prayer. That is what we attempt to do when we fill baskets and give them to those in need at Christmas time. We have heard feedback from some who have given those baskets that said those individuals were in need of the very things our church gave them. It’s a blessing and not a burden to be able to help others and there are many around who are in need. It’s easier to just sit back and let your light dim to a flicker. Light shows the way, light promotes growth, light is healthy and the more light we spread the brighter this world becomes. Think for a moment about a lighthouse set on a hill. Before the lighthouse ships had no sure guidance as to where shores and shoals were in the dark. Lighthouse lights were a bright beacon that shown for miles and even through dense fog they could be seen offering hope and safety to ships out on the oceans.

This world today is a tumultuous sea tossing individuals in storms of life and many of them have no guidance, no beacon of light to illuminate and lead them to safety. Be that Light the world needs. Our prayer: Precious Lord help us to be a bright light for you. Lead us to those in need of light and strengthen us to be that Light and beacon to this lost and dying world.