A NOTE ABOUT THE CONTEXT:
This was originally preached on 31 October 2005 at our ’Light Party’. We had bouncy castles, face painting, live worship on a stage, plus a short evangelistic preach followed by fireworks to finish. The event was/is designed to take young people away from ’trick or treating’ on local doorsteps. When I preached this, it was dark and raining heavily, but (thank you LORD!) about 500 people were there, mostly from non-church families.
Are you looking forward to Christmas?
I’m guessing that if you’re under 15 the answer is “Yes, definitely!”, and if you’re over 15, “Maybe yes, maybe no!”
I love Christmas!
What would life be like if there were no Christmas? What would life be like if there were no summer?
No fun in the sun, days at the beach, warm weather?
What would life be like if it was always winter but never Christmas? Always dark when we leave to go to work and always dark when we return?
As I was growing up one of my favourite books was ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.’ I can’t wait for 9 December 2005 when the new film hits our screens! (UK)
Early on in the book I remember that Lucy finds her way to a fantasy world called Narnia. She meets a fawn called Tumnus, and while Lucy and Tumnus talk in his cave, Tumnus explains that the reason it’s so cold and dreary is because of the evil Queen.
“Who is she?” asks Lucy.
Tumnus replies: “Why, it is she that has got all Narnia under her thumb. It’s she that makes it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that!”
But there is Good News! All is not lost! Aslan (the Lion who created Narnia) returns to fight for the land and the people he loves. Aslan returns to Narnia to set free the people who live there.
It’s a great story! I loved the book and I can’t wait for the film!
But why did C.S. Lewis write it? He once said that it “is the best art form for something you have to say.”
I know lots of people for whom life seems cold and dreary, always winter and never Christmas.
…people for whom life seems dark and hopeless.
I also know that Jesus is the Light of the world! On one occasion Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” (John 12: 46)
In Narnia, when Aslan was around, the snow began to melt, there were Christmas celebrations, winter turned to spring; laughter and fun returned to Narnia!
I wonder if you would just look up into the sky for a moment. Soon that darkness will be broken. The sky will be lit up by an awesome display of fireworks. As the fireworks explode your faces will be lit up by the light.
That’s what Jesus does for us as we believe in him, but not just our faces! As we believe and put our trust in Jesus, His light comes in to every aspect of our lives.
I put my trust in Jesus when I was 17. His light shone into my darkness. Where there was once boredom Jesus brought me purpose in life! Where there was once anger and resentment Jesus brought me peace!
Where there was once a life that was cold and dreary Jesus brought me warmth, fun and laughter.
Just as Aslan brings life back to Narnia, so Jesus brings life, hope and light to us.
I hope you enjoy the film. I hope you enjoy the fireworks, and above all, I hope and pray that you will know that Jesus came “into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in [him] should stay in darkness.” Amen!
