INTRODUCTION
Are you afraid of the dark? When I was a child I used to be afraid. My active imagination caused me to visualize all types of dreadful things lurking in the dark along the path to the out house, or next to my bed in the night. When we would come home at night, I would let my Father or Mother go into the empty house first to light a kerosene lamp or, when we got electricity and indoor plumbing, to click on an electric light before I would enter.
I remember lingering too long at the baseball field one evening and having to run, not walk, about a half of a mile home, through dark fields and brush: Perhaps my personal best time at that distance. Before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I used to spend a lot of time laying in my dark bedroom thinking about the Devil whom I hated, but continued to serve. When I had reached the age of accountability I was aware that many of my "deeds were evil…"(v. 19) and that since I refused to be "born again"(v. 3) that I would not "enter the kingdom of God…"(v. 5)
What a peace Jesus gave me the night I gave him control of my life. I could close my eyes and know that "if I should die before I wake(awakened), I know(knew) the Lord my soul will(would) take." I had peace. Yes, I still am suspicious of dark shadows. I do like to sleep in the dark; but I like the small red light on the alarm clock to remind me of where I am when I awaken.(Ever wake up in a strange, dark room and forget where you were?) I no longer fear death, for I am walking in the light of Christ’s love.(1 John 1:7) He gives me fellowship and courage, even in the darkest trials.
Jesus brought light "into the world…"(v.7) In the lonely fields of Bethlehem, that first Christmas, "the glory of the Lord shone around"(Luke 2:9) the angels as they relayed "good news of great joy…for all the people."(Luke 2:10) The Savior, the Christ, the Lord, the Messiah had been born. The light of the Star of Bethlehem also signaled to all who would look and learn that the King of the Jews had been born.
I especially enjoy the lights of Christmas/Advent. On this first Sunday morning of Advent I would like for us to look at five or six of those lights. 1. The Advent Wreath’ s Candle’s Light. 2. Furnace Lights. 3. Cook Stove Lights. 4. Decorative Christmas Lights. 5. Traffic Lights. Conclusion. Holiday House Fire Lights.
I. THE ADVENT WREATH’S CANDLE’S LIGHT.
These candle’s lights remind us of Jesus who bought light to this sinful world. They invite us to prepare for and to celebrate this Advent Season. They remind us that Christmas is a religious holiday for those who have seen and followed the Light. Each Sunday as we light the candles, we grow with anticipation for the joys of Christmas. Carols. Special worship services. Thoughts of kind deeds we can do for those less fortunate than us, or of special things we plan to do for those whom we love. Prayers for the ones that we love, as well as for those who go through the Christmas motions, but have never met the Savior. The center candle’s light reminds us that Jesus should always be central in our celebration and in all of life.
They remind us of our need to be lights to the world. "This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine… Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine…till Jesus Comes…" As Christians we love Christmas, but we long for and look for the Second Advent/Coming of Jesus Christ. For centuries sermons have taught of the suddenness of his Second Coming. Look at the signs of the times. Look at Israel. Are we living in the "Last Days?" Christmas would be an appropriate time for him to return… Are you ready?
II. THE LIGHT OF FURNACES.
"The weather outside is frightful, the fire inside is delightful… Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." As Americans, we are so blessed to have gas, oil, electric furnaces. Many of us also have fireplaces and wood burning stoves to supplement our other sources of heat or for aesthetic reasons. Some countries enjoy the "Yule Log" tradition. I love to turn the TV to the station that displays a fire in a fireplace while broadcasting Christmas carols.
The luxuries that we enjoy are only dreamed of in many of the world’s countries. Christmas should be a time of Thanksgiving. Yes, thanksgiving that we have heard the gospel. That early American colonists came to America to worship God. That our land was founded on Christian principles: No matter what the historic revisionists say. I am thankful for the Continental Army; many who had only rags for shoes, persevering in the snow covered fields of Valley Forge, PA to risk their lives for freedom. I have read the reports of the men noting their General Washington kneeling in the snow and praying to his and our God to give him victory.(Artists have painted pictures of this event.)
As a child, I remember newscasts telling of American soldiers, living for months in the frigid mountains and hills of Korea, risking, and giving, their lives to save freedom for the people of Korea. I vividly remember sitting in the back seat of our car, while my parents spoke to and prayed with the father and mother of a son who gave his life in Korea. Value freedom! Do you pray for the persecuted church?
We must not take our freedoms for granted. I remember as a child, how the soot from our coal furnace would pepper the white snow with black specks of soot. That sight helped me to understand that Jesus wanted to, and wants to, cleanse our hearts from the darkness of sin and to make them "whiter than the snow."(Psalm 51:7)
III. COOKING STOVE LIGHTS.
At our house, and probably at yours, more cooking and baking goes on between Thanksgiving and Christmas than at any other time of the year. Each Christmas Eve, my wife bakes a special Christmas bread ring and covers it with special white frosting and cherries, to be eaten on Christmas morning. What family traditions are you passing down to your family? Maybe preparing a favorite meat dish to bake slowly in the oven? Or perhaps taking time to allow your children to mix and cut Christmas cookies into the shapes of the season. What will our children remember of our conduct at Christmas? Will they remember that we were so busy and frazzled trying to make everything perfect, and that we forgot to enjoy the moment? That we failed to exhibit the real love of the Christ of Christmas?
We should not miss the symbolism of the name of the town where Jesus was born. "Bethlehem." It means the house or city of bread. John records Jesus declaring, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."(John 6:35) Perhaps you can use this Season to bake some goodies and deliver them to your neighbor: And just maybe share a word or two about Jesus…
IV. DECORATIVE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
I love the lights in the outdoor trees and on the shrubs and buildings. Yes, I may just take a few moments to watch the President light the National Christmas tree and to hear the choirs and Marine band sing and play the carols that tell of Jesus, my Light. Lights make some ask about "The Story."
Those of you who attend our Christmas Open House at the Parsonage, know how our Christmas trees and every room in the house are filled with twinkling Christmas lights. A nativity set and tree or trees are in every room: All declaring that Jesus is Lord of our hearts and home.
I know, I have told you before of my tradition of laying under the Christmas tree and looking up through the branches at the lights. There I try to picture that first Christmas as Joseph and Mary puzzled over the fact that out of all the people in their world, that they had been chosen to be the parents of Jesus, who was to save his people from their sin.(If you can still get down on the floor, and know that you will be able to get back up, try this with a child and let them tell you what they see as they use their imagination to look back two thousand years to that First Christmas Night.)
Under the lights of the tree I have read my children and grandchildren the Christmas story time and time again. My wife has read them hundreds of books about Jesus. Each Christmas the youngest child, who can talk, tells the family the Christmas story, using the Nativity set that has been given the prominent position under our tree. Forty years ago, next to the lights of a Christmas tree, one Christmas Eve, I placed an engagement ring on my future wife’s finger… But that is another story…
Luminaries, beckon worshippers to Christmas Eve services. "On lights" on our stereos signal that soon we will hear the joyful strains of Christmas music filling our homes or cars. TV screens light up with Christmas specials celebrating the birth of the Savior. Some specials tell of Santa Claus, who was designed to remind us that Jesus is the gift of God. That the Father loves to give good gifts to his children. That the wise men gave the Christ Child their best gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh… Gifts for the King. That we should love our neighbors as ourselves…
V. TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
For all of my life, I have heard that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year. Last Friday, I heard that the day before Christmas is now the busiest. Life seems to grow busier and busier. I guess many wait until that last day to buy the gift that keeps on giving… Traffic increases during this season.(And now a public safety reminder--Buckle your seat belts and be sure that your children are securely buckled into the proper seat in your car. Take time to clear all of the snow and ice from your car before driving. Be careful of road rage. Well, isn’t Christmas time filled with commercials? And now back to the sermon…)
Traffic lights give order to our streets and roads. Green-Go. Yellow-Caution. Red-Stop. Perhaps we should have traffic lights in the place where we perform our daily devotions/quiet time. We need to think out and pray about our priorities of this season. Are we being a good steward of our money? Do we buy to impress? Has the Lord turned on a yellow light in our hearts telling us to be cautious about certain people, situations, transactions, alcoholic eggnog, office party kisses, etc. ? Is he saying "go" take a plate of cookies to a neighbor and tell them about Jesus? To send a card and write a note to some one who needs to be encouraged this Christmas? To invite someone to share the joys of your home and family? To make a call? Allow him to lead. Allow him to direct your activities.
Perhaps Christmas reminds you of unhappy memories. Red lights tell you to stop enjoying Advent because of bad memories. A loved one who has died near Christmas? A child that you aborted and now you wonder what joys they would have brought into your life.(Remember Christ has forgiven all of your sins. Do not beat yourself up over past sins. He not only forgave your sin when you asked, he forgot your sin!) Maybe Christmas reminds you of a drunken, abusive parent. Of poverty. Too many people have expectations of the "perfect" day or gift: And when things are not perfect they fail to enjoy and to be thankful for what they have. More people suffer from depression and mental illness at Christmas than at any other time. Get out and do something for others. Read the Bible. Sing the songs. Take a brisk walk in the Winter Wonderland. Think on the joyful, the good, the holy, the love of God.(Yes, He will never stop loving you.)
Allow Jesus to put order in your life as traffic lights put order on our highways. Do not get so busy that you fail to take time for spiritual things. Worship. Bible reading. Prayers. Witnessing…
CONCLUSION
There is one last light that I want to talk to you about this morning. The LIGHT OF HOUSE FIRES, STARTED BY CHRISTMAS TREE FIRES, AND FIRES CAUSED BY CARELESS USE OF CANDLES.
Every Christmas, the news media reports of homes, presents, lives…being destroyed by the careless use of lights on trees or by careless smoking, or candles near Christmas trees. It only takes a spark… It is hard for me to imagine candles burning on colonial Christmas trees? What chance taking!
Do you see where I am going? Verse 19 says, "This is the VERDICT: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." Evil men who do not repent are headed to Hell. The Bible teaches us in Hebrews 9:27. "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Jesus has given us light. Do we love darkness/sin or do we love light/righteousness/Christ? We know that Romans 6:23 teaches that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Jesus came to save us from Hell’s flames. "to save us all from Satan’s power," to open Heaven’s gates for us, where he will be the Eternal Light. Accept his gift and live eternally.
The TV news programs have been showing Boston decorated with the beautiful lights of Christmas. They remind me of the two signal lights that Paul Revere saw in the Old North Church steeple around 225 years ago. Remember… "One if by land, two if by sea…" were to warn that the British were coming, by sea, to attack the Patriots. May the light of Christmas remind us all that life is quickly passing. That we are making choices that will affect our destiny and the destiny of others. More is written in the Bible about the Second Advent/Coming of Jesus than about his First Coming. Most of the world was not ready for his First Advent. He spent his first hours in a cattle stable. As he taught, lived, died, and arose, people began to see the light and to repent and confess him as Lord. Have you seen the Light? Do you love the Light? Let the fire of Jesus’ love burn out the sin from your heart and fill it with flames of love for God and for man.
Today, the lights of his special Christmas Season beckon you as he says, in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
(The idea for this sermon came after reading the 25 Advent devotions in "Advent Flames-Devotions and Prayers" by Arden Mead: Published by Creative Communications for the Parish, Fenton, MO.(800-325-9414)
(Bible quotes from the New International Version.)
Ron Keller
