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Celebrating the freeing, supportive presence of God.  So your experience of God may become your experience of life.  It is wonderful what God can do!

January 23, 2005

THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS

THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS DRIVING DOWN 20A. SUDDENLY I SAW A BRIGHT LIGHT AHEAD OF ME. THE LIGHT SEEMED TO BE SHOOTING UP INTO THE SKY. AS A CONTINUED TO DRIVE, I REALIZED THAT THE LIGHT WAS FROM THE AIRPORT ON 20A. IT WAS A HOMING BEACON TO AIRCRAFT THAT MIGHT BE TRYING TO LAND AT OUR LOCAL AIRPORT.

I FOUND MYSELF REFLECTING ON THAT BEACON OF LIGHT FROM THE AIRPORT. I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT IT IN A SPIRITUAL WAY TOO.

IN FACT, THREE THOUGHTS CAME TO MIND THAT CAN HELP US THIS MORNING.

THE FIRST THOUGHT IS THAT JUST AS THE LIGHT FROM THE AIRPORT IS A HOMING BEACON FOR AIRCRAFT SO CHRIST IS A HOMING BEACON FOR OUR LIVES.

IN THE BIBLE, SO MANY PEOPLE CAME TO JESUS WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. NICODEMUS CAME BY NIGHT WITH HIS SPIRITUAL QUESTIONS. A BLIND CAME TO SEE JESUS. A MAN WHO DEFRAUDED OTHERS SAW JESUS OVER A MEAL. IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THEY WERE ALL CONFUSED ABOUT THEIR LIVES. YET, AFTER THEY ENCOUNTERED CHRIST, WELL, LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF A FAVORITE HYMN, ENTITLED "SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, SOMETHING GOOD."

"SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, SOMETHING GOOD; ALL MY CONFUSION, HE UNDERSTOOD; ALL I HAD TO OFFER HIM WAS BROKENNESS AND STRIFE, BUT HE MADE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL OF MY LIFE."

JESUS ALSO SAID, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE." (JOHN 8:12)

FIRST OF ALL, THEN, JESUS, THE LIGHT FROM JESUS, IS A HOMING BEACON TO ALL.

SECOND, I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT OF THE LOCAL AIRPORT SHINED OUT INTO THE DARKNESS. THE LIGHT PIERCED THE DARKNESS. WHERE THERE WAS DARKNESS, WITH THE BEACON OF LIGHT, THERE WAS LIGHT AND ONE COULD SEE THROUGH THE DARKNESS.

IN OUR LIVES, WE, UNFORTUNATELY, EXPERIENCE DARKNESS.

FOR ONE WE EXPERIENCE THE DARKNESS OF SIN. EITHER THROUGH OUR OWN DOING OR SOMETIMES BY SOMETHING DONE TO US, WE EXPERIENCE THE DARKNESS THAT COMES FROM SIN.

YET, IN RESPONSE TO YOUR SIN AND MINE, WE REMEMBER THAT CHRIST DIED ON A CROSS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, YOUR SINS AND MINE.

WITH THAT IN MIND, WE COULD SAY, USING OUR METAPHOR OF LIGHT, THAT THE LIGHT FROM CHRIST'S DYING ON THE CROSS HAS PIERCED THE DARKNESS OF SIN IN OUR LIVES.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE POWER OF GOD'S LIGHT IN CHRIST IS GREATER THAN THE POWER OF OUR SIN, IF WE CONFESS OUR SIN.

FOR AS THE SCRIPTURE READS, "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."

IT IS GREAT TO KNOW THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST'S LIGHT IS GREATER THAN THE DARK POWER OF SIN.

ALSO, CHRIST'S LIGHT CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME ANY DARKNESS.

A LITTLE BOY NAMED BOBBY ENTERED HIS FIRST SCIENCE FAIR IN SECOND GRADE. BECAUSE HIS MOM HAS A GREEN THUMB, THEY DECIDED TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE GROWTH OF PLANTS. HE TOOK TWO SMALL GREEN PLANTS AND PLACED ONE ON A SUNNY WINDOWSILL AND THE OTHER IN A CARDBOARD BOX. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BOBBY CHECKED ON THE TWO PLANTS. THE ONE ON THE WINDOWSILL HAD GROWN A COUPLE OF INCHES AND HAD VIBRANT GREEN LEAVES. THE ONE IN THE BOX HAD ACTUALLY GROWN A BIT, BUT IT HAD LOST ALL OF ITS GREEN COLOR, BECOMING ALMOST WHITE AND ITS LEAVES DROOPING. THINKING THAT THE PLANT MIGHT DIE, BOBBY CUT A HOLE IN ONE SIDE OF THE BOX, LIKE THIS, AND SET THE BOX, WITH THE PLANT INSIDE, BY THE WINDOWSILL … WITH THE HOLE FACING TOWARD THE INCOMING LIGHT. WELL YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED … BUT BOBBY WAS SO EXCITED BY THIS DISCOVERY! YES, OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW WEEKS, THE PLANT BEGAN TO GROW OUT THROUGH THE HOLE! AND, A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, IT TURNED TO GROW UP TOWARD THE LIGHT AND EVEN BLOSSOMED! THE PLANT THAT HAD BEEN IN GLOOMY DARKNESS … AND WAS ALL BUT DEAD … HAD SEEN A GREAT LIGHT, IT TURNED TOWARD THAT LIGHT AND BLOSSOMED!

THE SCRIPTURES SAY IS THIS WAY IN JOHN 1:5, "THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS AND THE DARKNESS DID NOT OVERCOME IT."

THE LIGHT OF CHRIST CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME ANY DARKNESS. ALL THE BOY DID WAS TO OPEN HIS ALMOST DEAD PLANT TO THE LIGHT, AND THE GROWTH AND BLOOMING BEGAN BEGAN TO OCCUR.

WITH ANY DARKNESS IN YOUR LIFE, BY WHICH YOU MAY FEEL BOXED IN, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS OPEN YOURSELF UP TO THE LIGHT OF CHRIST, AND YOU WILL START TO GROW AND BLOSSOM TOO.

THERE IS ANOTHER KIND OF DARKNESS, AND THAT IS THE DARKNESS OF DEATH.

YET, FROM GOD, CHRIST, AND THE SCRIPTURES, THERE IS A RESPONSE TO THAT TOO.

AGAIN, WE ARE ALL MORE THAN AWARE OF THE DARKNESS OF THE CROSS. IN FACT, THE NEXT DAY, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING HAS BEEN CALLED BLACK SATURDAY. ALL DID INDEED SEEM LOST.

BUT AGAIN WE KNOW TOO THAT THERE WAS THE LIGHT OF EASTER MORN, THE LIGHT SHINING IN THE DARKNESS OF A NOW EMPTY TOMB. THE RESURRECTION IS ALL ABOUT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST CONTINUING TO SHINE. "DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY." "THANKS BE TO GOD WHO HAS GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." ( I CORINTHIANS 15:54,57)

THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION REMINDS US THAT CHRIST AND HIS LIGHT HAVE OVERCOME THE DARKNESS OF DEATH AND CONTINUE TO SHINE FOREVER.

RETURNING AGAIN TO THAT AIRPORT BEACON ON 20A, AS I FINALLY DROVE BY THAT LIGHT, I COULD NO LONGER SEE IT BUT I KNEW IT WAS STILL SHINING.

I WAS REMINDED THAT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST IS STILL AVAILABLE WHENEVER I NEED IT ON MY JOURNEY.

I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL THIS WEEK FROM SUE FERRIS. AS YOU MAY KNOW HER SON TIM AND HIS NEW WIFE ARE IN THE SERVICE AND ARE RETURNING TO THE FRONT LINES. TIM WILL BE RETURNING TO IRAQ AND HIS WIFE DEBBIE WILL BE GOING TO ALFGANISTAN.

AND, AS PART OF THE E-MAIL THAT SUE SENT ME SHE INCLUDED A FORWARDED E-MAIL FROM A CHAPLAIN IN IRAQ. IT READS LIKE THIS.

AS A TRANSPORTATION BATTALION, MY UNIT WILL BE DELIVERING THE VOTING MACHINES AND THE BALLOTS TO VILLAGES AND CITIES THROUGHOUT IRAQ DURING THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. (JANUARY 30/31) OUR CONVOYS ARE PRIME TARGETS FOR THE INSURGENTS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT THE EQUIPMENT TO ARRIVE AT THE POLLING STATIONS NOR DO THEY WANT THE LOCAL IRAQI CITIZENS TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO VOTE; TIMELY DELIVERY MUST OCCUR SO THAT THE ELECTIONS OCCUR. ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND THOSE WITHIN OUR CHURCHES TO PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. HISTORICALLY, THE PREVIOUS TOTALITARIAN REGIME WOULD NOT ALLOW INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS TO VOTE. DEMOCRACY WILL NOT BE REALIZED IN IRAQ IF INTELLIGENT AND COMPETENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ELECTED TO THOSE STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITHIN THE EMERGING GOVERNMENT; FREEDOM WILL NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RING THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY IF THE VOTING PROCESS FAILS. ANNOUNCE THIS PRAYER REQUEST TO YOUR CONTACTS THROUGHOUT YOUR CHURCHES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PLACES OF BUSINESS. THOSE WITH LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN THE LOCAL CHURCH POST THIS MESSAGE IN AS MANY NEWSLETTERS AND BULLETINS AS POSSIBLE. THERE IS UNLIMITED POTENTIAL FOR GOD'S PRESENCE IN THIS PROCESS BUT IF WE DO NOT PRAY THEN OUR ENEMY WILL PREVAIL (SEE EPHESIANS 6:10-17) (A PRAYER VIGIL PRIOR TO THE END OF THE MONTH MAY BE AN INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WITHIN YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE TO PRAY.) THIS IS A POLITICAL BATTLE THAT NEEDS SPIRITUAL INTERVENTION. A POWERFUL STORY ABOUT GOD'S INTERVENTION IN THE LIVES OF DAVID'S MIGHTY MEN IS RECORDED IN 2 SAMUEL 23:8-33. DAVID AND HIS WARRIORS WERE VICTORIOUS BECAUSE OF GOD'S INTERVENTION. WE WANT TO OVERCOME THOSE WHO WOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF FREEDOM. DAVID'S MIGHTY MEN TRIUMPHED OVER INCREDIBLE ODDS AND STOOD THEIR GROUND AND WERE VICTORIOUS OVER THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL. (IRAQI INSURGENTS' VS GOD'S PRAYING PEOPLE). (THEY DON'T STAND A CHANCE. )  I WILL PRAY WITH MY SOLDIERS BEFORE THEY LEAVE ON THEIR CONVOYS AND MOVE OUTSIDE OUR INSTALLATION GATES HERE AT TALLIL. MY SOLDIERS ARE AT THE NERVE CENTER OF THE LOGISTIC OPERATION TO DELIVER THE VOTING MACHINES AND ELECTION BALLOTS. THEY WILL BE DRIVING TO AND ENTERING THE ARENA OF THE ENEMY. (THIS IS NOT A GAME) FOR THEM IT IS A HISTORICAL MISSION THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. NO VOTING MACHINES OR BALLOTS. NO ELECTIONS. YOUR PRAYER SUPPORT AND GOD'S INTERVENTION ARE NEEDED TO GIVE DEMOCRACY A CHANCE IN THIS WAR TORN COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR READING THIS E-MAIL. PLEASE GIVE THIS E-MAIL A WIDE DISSEMINATION.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYER SUPPORT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. STAND FIRM IN YOUR BATTLES.

ANOTHER WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS FORWARDED E-MAIL FROM THE CHAPLAIN IN IRAQ IS AS A REQUEST FOR CHRIST'S LIGHT TO SHINE IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, IN THE DARKNESS.

SO, MAY EACH OF US PRAY THAT CHRIST'S LIGHT SHINE IN THE DARKNESS SO THE ELECTIONS CAN MOVE FORWARD.

MAY EACH OF US PRAY THAT CHRIST'S LIGHT SHINE IN THE DARKNESS FOR TIM AND DEBBIE AND ALL OUR SERVICE PERSONNEL.

AND MAY WE PRAY THAT CHRIST'S LIGHT SHINE IN THE DARKNESS FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING IN ANY WAY THIS MORNING.

AND I PRAY THAT CHRIST'S LIGHT MAY SHINE IN YOUR DARKNESS, LIGHTING UP YOUR PATH BEFORE YOU SO THAT YOU MAY DISCOVER THE MEANING OF THAT SONG, "THY WORD, CHRIST, IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH."

LET US PRAY.

DEAR GOD,

THANK YOU FOR THE LIGHT, ESPECIALLY THE LIGHT THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST. HELP US TO LOOK FOR YOUR LIGHT FOR DIRECTION IN OUR OWN LIVES AS WELL AS SEEK TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF YOUR LIGHT THIS COMING WEEK.

FOR IN THE NAME OF THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, WE PRAY, AMEN.