The light has come.... what will we do with it?

Message for the Midweek CHRISTMAS service.

 

We are in the year 2022.  What that means is that we are approximately 2022 years from the first Christmas.  This is an event that has been celebrated for such a long time.  Its significance means the world.  For God so loved the world that he sent he only son, that all who believe in him might be saved.  This is a gift of grace.  An incredible gift of God’s grace.  Without this gift, where would we be?

 

While John Lennon might ask us to imagine there is no Heaven, claiming a Nirvana without religion, but I suspect that without Heaven and without the influence of the coming of Christ the world would be in a lot more chaos.   it is a fact that many good things in the world exist because of Christianity.  From Wikipedia there is an article about the effect of Christianity on civilization.  It says; “The Bible and Christian theology have also strongly influenced Western philosophers and political activists.[6] The teachings of Jesus, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan, are among the most important sources of modern notions of human rights and the welfare commonly provided by governments in the West. Long-held Christian teachings on sexuality, marriage, and family life have also been influential and controversial in recent times. Christianity played a role in ending practices such as human sacrifice,[7] infanticide and polygamy.[8]: 309  Christianity in general affected the status of women by condemning marital infidelity, divorce, incest, polygamy, birth control, infanticide (female infants were more likely to be killed), and abortion.[9]: 104 ”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of_Christianity_in_civilization#:~:text=Christianity%20played%20a%20role%20in,be%20killed)%2C%20and%20abortion.

 

The Bible tells us that all had gone astray.  None could save themselves.  I am sure there were some pretty good folk throughout all time - Just as there are now.  Yet the Bible also tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.  All of us need a saviour.  To sin, simply means to fall short of perfection… we all fall short.  It is a condition common to all humanity, and we could all feel rather concerned about eternity, except for one thing – Christmas!  God himself came to be born as one of us. 

 

There may be many religions in the world, but there is none like this.  It is an historical fact that Jesus lived.  He is written about by non-Christian historians, as a man who performed wonders and was crucified.   Our faith is more than a belief.  There are some elements that are undeniable facts. 

 

Jesus declared himself to be God.  That is why the authorities were able to crucify him and feel justified – they believed he was blaspheming.  They didn’t understand their own sacred scriptures.  They knew that a Messiah was coming, but didn’t understand his nature… however, listen to this from Isaiah: “ For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

This child that was prophesied about is named Mighty God and Everlasting Father.   How can the Child be named this unless his nature is divine?  Jesus is the Word of God…  the visible expression of God – the word made flesh.  This birth that we celebrate is the incarnation.  It is just too amazing to fully comprehend.

 

What’s more amazing is that all this happened because of God’s great love for us.  God proved his love for us by becoming one of us and dying to save us.  He defeated death by rising from the dead, and when we belong to Christ, we are assured that this same power through which Christ rose from the dead is with us.  We are assured of eternal life because Christ still lives.

 

Isaiah also tells us; “His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom.”  This endless peace is not an earthly peace…. We misunderstand the scriptures if we think this.  The peace that is spoken of and promised as endless, is the peace between us and God.  There is assurance that God accepts us…. Endless peace between us and God because of Jesus and no matter what we do.

 

But what is our response to this absolutely incredible reality? 

 

There were shepherds in a field.  They were watching their sheep.  An Angel suddenly stood before them and the glory of the Lord was all around.  The Angel declared to them the Good News that the Messiah was born.  It was a message of great joy for all the people and it came, not to kings and dignitaries, but to the shepherds. 

 

These were ordinary people who experienced something extraordinary.   They discussed it among themselves to begin with and then these ordinary shepherds responded to the Good News.  They went off in search for the baby and found him.

 

Once the shepherds found the baby Jesus, they didn’t stop responding to the Good News.  They continued to respond by telling all they had heard and seen to others, and all those they told were also amazed.

 

We have received the Good News also, but how do we respond? 

 

Our scripture reading from Isaiah tells us; “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.” 

 

Our lives in 2022 are not all sunshine and rainbows.  There are certainly areas of darkness that need the light of Christ.  Will we allow that light to shine through us today?  After all… we are the body of Christ and his Spirit is with us….  The word “Angel” literally means, “Messenger of God”.  Today we can be the Angel bringing tidings of Good News and bringing the light of Christ to world that is silently crying out for a saviour….  A world in darkness, longing for the light. 

 

Receive the Light of Christ, may he shine within our hearts.  May Christ himself, so fill us with His light, that we go forth into the world he loves and bring His light to others.