2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-6 [CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT SERVICE]
THE LIGHT OF GOD'S GLORY
During the Christmas season of 1879, an agnostic REPORTER in Boston saw three little girls standing in front of a store window full of toys. One of them was blind. He heard the other two describing the toys to their friend. He had never considered how difficult it was to explain to someone without sight what something looks like. That incident became the basis for a newspaper story.
Two weeks later that same reporter attended a meeting held by Dwight L. Moody. His purpose was to catch the evangelist in an inconsistency. He was surprised when Moody used his account of the children trying to explain the toy to their blind to illustrate a truth. "Just as the blind girl couldn't visualize the toys," said Moody, "so an unsaved person can't see Christ in all His glory."
On that first Christmas, only a few people understood who Jesus really was. Many heard the report of the shepherds and were amazed, but they didn't view the baby in the manger as the Son of God. Our text tonight will help us understand why the real meaning of Christmas still escapes so many people today. The main reason the meaning of Christmas escapes us is because we have...
I. BLINDED MINDS, 3-4.
Verse 3 analysis why the gospel story doesn't change lives as it has the power to do (Rom. 1:16) to do. "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,"
Now this "gospel" for which we claim so unique a power has been ineffective in the case of the majority of those to whom hear it. Large numbers failed to perceive the gospel's heavenly glory even though the Apostle Paul proclaimed it so enthusiastically. The fault, however is not in the gospel or with its preaching but in those who have failed to discern its glory. It is not because gospel revelation is obscure and difficult to grasp, but because people preferred to be blinded by sin, self, and Satan.
1 Corinthians 2:14 says, "The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit for they are foolishness to him." Yielding to the Holy Spirit must occur if comprehension is to occur.
Since the time of Adam & Eve the devil has used sin to place a veil over man's understanding (v. 3) so that people experience spiritual blindness. This is why the Holy Spirit is so important to the work of sharing the gospel, for only He can lift the veil and open our spiritual eyes. [Chafin, Kenneth; Ogilvie, Lloyd: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1, 2 Corinthians. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985, S. 224]
Verse 4 indicates that it is the devil who blinds minds to the gospel message. "in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
There is another power at work upon natural man. We don't see spiritual reality because Satan so effectively dominates our thinking that he blinds us from the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
"The god of this age" is the devil (Jn. 12:31, 16:11, 14:30), whose activity is characterized by "hidden things of shame," "craftiness," deceitfulness (v. 2), and by blinding people's minds from the light of the gospel. When by unbelief one turns from the One True God that person has turn to the dark side and submitted their mind to the Satanic blinding.
In contrast, Christ is the very "image" [Gk. eikôgn] of God. The idea is exact representation and manifestation. Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:19, 1:18). Christ is the invisible God made visible, sent to shine God's truth into the minds of men (Col. 1:15). Christ, the Light of the World, is the visible image of God.
Walter B. Hinson told the story of a friend of his who worked as an EYE SPECIALIST. One day Hinson stopped by his office and found the optometrist exuberant. When the preacher asked him why he was so happy, the doctor answered, "did you meet an elderly man as you came into my office? He has not seen a flower nor the faces of his children for a long, long time. He lives out in the country, but a few months ago he came to town to seek my advice. After I examined him, I told him I thought his sight could be restored. Today I performed the final operation on his eyes. When I was done, I took him outside and showed him the glory of the morning. I restored his vision!" What a privilege for that doctor to be able to bring sight to blind eyes!
As Christians, we have a similar privilege. We can help the spiritually blind to see. We can introduce Jesus Christ to those to whom the gospel "is veiled." The apostle Paul wrote, "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Just before His ascension, Jesus said, "...you shall be witnesses to Me" (Acts 1:8). Believer's are responsible to be an ambassador for Christ, a witness who can say, "I was blind, but now I see."
What an awesome challenge and privilege! We can "give the light of the knowledge" of Jesus to a sin-darkened world. Who could ask for a greater privilege! If your Christianity is worth having, it's worth sharing.
II. THE LIGHT OF THE GLORY (5-6).
In verse 5 Paul affirms that he is not promoting himself but proclaiming Christ Jesus as Lord. “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as our bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
Preaching "ourselves" is a poor topic for any person, yet many do. We talk to other about us or our interests instead of about Christ and His interests. While standing by the pond the boy listened intently as his GRANDFATHER INSTRUCTED him how to be a good fisherman. "Three things are important," he said. "First, stay out of sight; second, stay out of sight; and third, stay out of sight!" Those are also wise words for fishers of men. Good messengers for Christ do not call attention to themselves but to the Savior.
When you witness, tell people about what Christ has done, and not about your abilities and accomplishments. People must be introduced to Christ, not to you.
In verse 6 Paul states the reason why he talked about Jesus any and every time he could. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
Light will shine out of darkness alludes to the creation account in Genesis 1:3. The Word of God spoke to the light so that it would shine in the darkness. The gospel is intended to do in human hearts what the creation of light did to the darkened chaos of earth. The earth was formless and empty till God acted to bring light out of darkness, so in His creating of a new spiritual man He cause light to shine in darkened hearts. Just as God created the world, He now makes believers into a new creation (5:17).
When Jesus Christ shines into our hearts, then, only then, can we be saved. Left to our self, the sinner can only stumble on in eternal darkness. At the point of salvation God enlightens our whole being: moral, intellectual and spiritual. Miners carry a lap on their fore heads to see the way. Christians carry Christ in their hearts so they can see the way out of darkness into His glorious light of His new creation in Christ.
[The focus of Paul's life developed out of having seen for himself the glory of God in the face of Christ (initially on the Damascus road). In Paul's encountered with Christ he received the Light of Life. From that point on He lived to shine the light of Christ into the lives of others. We share with others what has impact our life and left a lasting impression. We share it enthusiastically if it was transformational in our life.]
The human heart can be a closed, dark place. But the Christian who looks to Christ will have the illuminating knowledge of the glory of God shining in their hearts (Jn 1:1-14; 9:24-25, 35-41; 1 Cor 2:1-14). May you shine the light of Christ not only this Christmas season but continually through out your new life in Christ.
IN CLOSING
God has made the ultimate truth available. Dr. Billy Graham would often say, "You have two sets of ears; your physical ears with which you hear what I'm saying to you right now, and your spiritual ears with which you hear what God says to you." When the gospel is shared in power, God uses it to shine a light where before there was only darkness.
In Benjamin Franklin's day the STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA were dark after sunset. Nighttime pedestrians had to walk cautiously to avoid rocks and holes.
Franklin decided to set a good example for his fellow citizens by placing a lantern outside his home. As people stumbled down his street at night, they would come to that oasis of light and realize what a blessing it was. Soon other Philadelphians were putting up their own lanterns. After sunset the whole village became a place of illuminated safety.
The world around us is dark with spiritual ignorance. For multitudes of people, the aimlessness of their existence leads to unspoken despair.
We can't single-handedly drive back the darkness everywhere, but we can do something significant. We can let our redeemed, Christ-ignited lives serve as lanterns of light. Our Savior commands us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven (Mt. 5:16).
Instead of bemoaning the darkness, we can show the way to those around us. As Christ shine through us, lost souls stumbling in spiritual darkness will be attracted to Him who is the Light to the World. Remember, the smallest light still shines in the darkest night.
Today, multitudes are unaware of the true identity of Jesus because they are spiritually blind. If this describes you, ask God to open your eyes. Believe that the Lord of Glory died for your sins. Then trust Him. Your eyes will be opened, and you'll recognize who He really is. Then as you come to know the Christ of Christmas you will understand why we celebrate Christmas instead of winter break or Happy Holidays.
Is the glory of God in the person of Jesus the image you are looking at, and being transformed into? Is the light of God’s glory displaying Jesus to you? Are you shining the light of Christ's glory?
Prayer: Father of Light, there's no shade of change in You. Enlighten our minds and hearts to see the miraculous things that exist beyond this earthly darkness. Amen.
