“Let there be light” Genesis 1:1-3, Jn 1:1-13 WBC 14/9/03am
INTRO
I get some atrocious stuff sent by email: Man of the year photos.
- after all this darkness, need some light!
This creation story- mean so much, says so much
- given in the context of the Babylonian creation story, enuma elish, that was the prevalent story of the day
o that said : ‘chaos rules’. The God’s don’t care
- sets the record straight
o God rules. He spoke into the darkness, chaos, and created the light. And there is only one of Him and He DOES care
Besides God’s caring being seen in making the world GOOD- His intimate caring is seen even in the concept of ‘light’
- because, to the Jewish reader, light was synonymous with God’s presence
o so, in saying ‘let there be light’ and later creating US, God is showing His intention of His presence being WITH US
see it explicitly in Gen 2 & 3 with God, the light, walking in the garden with Adam
So- what happened? The world is SO beautiful but there’s such darkness too. People’s lives can be so dark
- I think it’s deeper than we can ever understand… and God knows that
- So He tells us what we need to know in this story:
• something went wrong. Using the free will people had been given- somebody turned out the light
• it was Adam: he welcomed the darkness in… set the modus operandi for all of us:
Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort
from the thought that even God’s omnipotence did not extend to
His own children. After creating heaven and earth, God created
Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was,
"Don’t."
"Don’t what?" Adam replied.
"Don’t eat the forbidden fruit." God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit?" "Hey, Eve .. . we
have forbidden fruit!"
"No way!"
"Yes, way!"
"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God.
"Why?"
"Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied, (wondering
why He hadn’t stopped creation after making the elephants). A few
minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and was
He ticked!
"Didn’t I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God, as our first
parent, asked?
"Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you?" said the Father.
"I don’t know," said Eve.
"She started it!" Adam said,
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"DID NOT!"
Having had it with the two of them, God’s punishment was that
Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus, the pattern
was set and it has never changed! But there is reassurance in
this story. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give
children wisdom and they haven’t taken it, don’t be hard on
yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you
think it would be a piece of cake for you?
• but before you get hung up about who Adam was- I tell you: He is US! He is you, me
o WE, by nature and choice, go against what God wants… and then wonder why it’s so dark. And the world is polluted by others’ darkness, as well.
Aargh! Does it just end there? Impotent God or what that He just let’s His plans be thwarted… just like that. And His prized creation live in darkness.
No way. The solution is in here, as well. In verse 3. But also in ch 2 & 3.
- God foreknew the darkness would come. We’d blow it
o And predestined the solution. Sent the solution before the creation of time. Sent it… Him… in the words “let there be light”
LIGHT RECEIVERS
Do any of you keep fish? Goldfish?
- what happens to a goldfish that’s kept in the dark (besides die!)?
o they lose their colour
People need the light as well.
- in fact: we were designed for it. Destined for it… Him
- people can be pale, dying- and not knowing what they’re missing… or not willing to accept the ONE thing, one person who can ‘lighten their darkness’.
o Or thinking they already have the light by default
That’s such a swiz! Cheats people of what they could, should have
- tricks people into an enforced satisfaction with a glowing wick rather than a huge arc-light
There’s a passage that echo’s, amplifies and clarifies the Genesis passage. Listen to it.
JN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
JN 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
JN 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
It shows that there is a glimmer of light in ALL of us- that’s being made in God’s image. That’s having the flicker in you that gives you the insight to cry out ‘oh God, there must be more than this’
- there is! RECEIVE the light and BECOME a fully adopted, light bearing CHILD of God
People need the Lord. (PPT) We need to receive Jesus. He’s the light
What are you going through? I know what the answer is. Who it is.
- by this I don’t mean a magic wand to make everything go away
o not magic. Light. Light that overcomes darkness
o PPT of ‘light of the world’
JN 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
People need Jesus. He’s the answer. You need to receive Jesus.
- Example of the difference He makes: Illustr: Gram Seed’s testimony (4 mins)
Temptation can be to think: I’m not as bad as Gram. I don’t need Him
- testimonies this morning, life and Jesus’ words show us we ALL do
o need to RECEIVE the light… be light receivers
LIGHT BEARERS
And take the light with us wherever we go
Light and love are two things you can share without depleting your resources, at all
- in fact, you find it grows them!
A candle can pass a flame to an infinite number of others
- till the place is filled with light
Love… Jesus’ love, influence can be passed on and change a whole community
- Illustr: ‘To end all wars’, Ernie Gordon ‘Miracle on River Kwai’
o Incredible transformation of community- sacrifice & forgiveness
God’s done SO much for you, hasn’t He?
- it’s not just for you.
o It’s for you to share. Bear. Carry to others
And THE light, YOUR light will grow as you do so
- We are to be salt and light- in the community, workplace with people with difficulties and questions- changing it.
Who are you bearing the light to?
LIGHT SENDERS
The needs of our society are SO great. I don’t think I’ve ever known a society have so much and yet be so impoverished. So blind and inoculated to its own needs.
- most tragically of all, many people are searching
o but searching in areas that are powerless to actually HELP them
at best their neutral. At worst0 downright harmful
o Illustr: told you I’ve changed my mind over those in new age etc. Started a few years ago at a prayer meeting where such folks were being prayed at as ‘the enemy’. Felt uneasy. Thought ‘at least they are searching’
o Recently went into friends home. New Age, Fen Shui stuff. Thought ‘oh people will search anywhere but the living God, nowadays’. 20 minutes later husband asked ‘what’s this Alpha thing, then. I think my wife would like to go on that’
At least they’re seeking! More seeking and they’ll FIND
But new age is such a deception, placebo, actually.
- gives people a feeling of some ‘religion’
- pseudo scientific. A- moral (note: not ‘immoral)
- mix and match. No personal demands or personal holy God
- what a tragedy! Could have the real thing!
When David felt distressed about all that was going on around him. Here’s what he prayed:
- PS 43:3 Send forth your light and your truth,
When Jesus saw the hoards who needed Him, he said:
Mt 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to SEND OUT workers into his harvest field."
He taught us to pray:
“may your Kingdom come, and your will be done”
- SEND your Kingdom. Send the light
We must do the same. People need the Lord. Need the light. We must be light -senders
- “Jesus. Send the Light”.
Join us this Weds in a day of prayer and fasting. For the light to break through in people’s lives. For Alpha
Julia sing: People need the Lord:
Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eye.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?
On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize -- people need the Lord?
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What would be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who’s lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For people need the Lord.
People need the Lord.
Closing songs:
In these days of darkness, who will… (carry the fire)
Lord, the light of your love is shining
