THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS FOR YOUR DARK DAYS
One of my favorite times at Christmas is the lights. It all starts around November in the stores. It seems that every weekend more and more lights go up.
It is interesting… December 21st is the Winter Solstice - the longest night of the year.
During this season - the darkest part of the year - Christmas pierces the darkness with light.
Lights were important in the very first Christmas. The angels did their dazzling light show in the sky. The shepherds went to Bethlehem as a result.
The wise men followed another star which brought them to the baby Jesus.
I don’t know if you know it or not, but light is a major theme in the Bible.
I Jn 1:5
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (NKJ)
The very first commandment God gave at creation was “Let there be light…”
Jesus said, “I’m the light of the world…
In fact… this is the very reason for Christmas.
John 12:46
46 I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in the darkness. (TLB)
He is not talking about physical darkness here but personal darkness.
EVERYBODY HAS DARK DAYS!
Tonight I want to look for just a minutes at “The Light Of Christmas For Your Dark Days”
I specifically want to look at four types of dark days and how Christmas is the response to that through the life of Jesus.
1. DARK DAYS OF DISSAPPOINT
2. DARK DAYS OF DISTRESS
3. DARK DAYS OF DOUBT
4. DARK DAYS OF DEPRESSION
Probably each of us can relate to at least one of these days.
1. DARK DAYS OF DISSAPPOINT
Job 30:26 - “I hoped for happiness and light, but trouble and darkness came instead.” (Para)
Have you ever felt that way? You hope for one thing but disappointment and trouble come our way.
Look at the disappointing news that we’ve heard lately…
The economy is going down
The unemployment rate is going up
etc.…
The fact is… life doesn’t always work out as planned. Situations don’t always work themselves out.
Some of you will open a Christmas present tonight or tomorrow and it won’t be what you’ve been hinting around for. You are in for some big disappointments.
I imagine Mary experienced disappointment at the very first Christmas. She was told - “You are going to be the mother of the Messiah, the Son of God.” She then gives birth to Him in a stable! I think that would have been disappointing.
Life is disappointing at times! We go through dark days of disappointment.
2. DARK DAYS OF DISTRESS
This is when we feel overwhelmed, stretched out, stressed to the limit.
You have to much to do - not enough time or energy. More bills than money.
I think Mary felt stress at this first Christmas. She was nine months pregnant. She was away from family. She had to ride a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem - nine months pregnant.
Her first baby - by herself, alone in a stable.
Scrip ??? “I cried out desperately for help but it still does not come…”
Have you ever felt that way? You are crying out for help but nobody helps you.
These can be dark days of distress - when you’re stretched out to the limit.
You might be distressed about a lot of things tonight - finances, family, work, physically, etc.
3. DARK DAYS OF DOUBT
John 12:35
35 … he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. (NKJ)
He’s drifting. He doesn’t know where he is going. He has no objectives.
Do you ever feel like this? You have lost your way and you don’t know what to do.
When you look at your past your get disappointments. When you look at your present you get stressed. When you look at your future you get doubtful. You get worried.
There are plenty reasons why you might have doubt and uncertainty about the future… The economy / my job/ etc.
Dark days of doubt. We all go through them. What is my future going to be like?
4. DARK DAYS OF DEPRESSION
It is at this point you ask yourself the question - ‘What’s the use?” You feel like giving up.
World War II. Winston Churchill said, “The light has gone out in Europe.” Some of you may feel that way tonight. The light has gone out of your life.
Lam 3:19-20 - “The thought of my pain is bitter poison. I think of it constantly and my spirit is depressed.”
Some of you have faced some major crisis’ in this last year. Divorce/ job down sizing/ death of a loved one/ a defeat/ illness.
You don’t feel like being happy during the holiday season. In fact - everyone else’s happiness only intensifies your pain and aloneness.
Perhaps you feel like…
Ps 88:18
18 Lover, friend, acquaintance-- all are gone. There is only darkness everywhere. (TLB)
You wonder at times like this - does anybody care?
If you don’t get anything else I say tonight - know this… GOD CARES!
You matter to God and so does your pain. He cares about you.
Everyone of us tonight are in one of three situations…
- Some of you are heading into dark days
- Some of you are in dark days
- Some of you are coming out of dark days into the light
So what do we do.
2 Sam 22:29
29 O Lord, you are my light! You make my darkness bright. (TLB)
How does Christ do this? He tells us that He is the light of the world - so how does He dispel my darkness?
There are four things He does:
1- He encourages me when I am disappointed
Ps 34:18
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. (NKJ)
God has never left you. He is always with us.
Remember the song - “Emanuel.”
The darkest part of the night is when the sun is shining the brightest on the other part of the world.
He encourages me by helping me understand that He has a plan and design for my life.
Jer 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (TLB)
GOD USES DISAPPOINTMENT TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.
God’s purpose for your life is much greater than your problems.
2- He strengthens me when I’m distressed
Phil 4:13 - “I have the strength for all things in Christ who empowers me. I am ready for anything through Him who infuses inner strength in me.” (Ampli)
Psa 23:4 - “Even though I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid Lord, for you are with me..” (Para)
There are 150 Psalms. Let me give you the theme of Psalms - “Life is tough but God is good.”
There are 365 “fear not’s” in the Bible - one for every day. Don’t be afraid - God will strengthen you when you are distressed.
3- He will guide me when I am doubtful.
John 8:12
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (NKJ)
What are you worried about?
I need to know that when I face doubt I always have a reliable source that will lead me if I trust in God.
He gave me God’s word - it won’t steer me wrong.
Ps 119:105
105 Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling. (TLB)
It is the only reliable guide for life.
During the break-down of the Soviet Union - Gorbachev made this statement in time magazine - “We in the Soviet Union have changed our opinion on some matters - such as religion. The moral values that Christianity has generated and embodied for centuries can help in the work of renewal for our country.
That’s not Billy Graham - but Gorbachev
He is essence admitted they had been wrong for 74 years. The communistic system didn’t work. They tried to stamp out any form of spirituality in the Russian people and they failed.
There is a revival taking place right now. Why? Because darkness can’t keep out the light.
4- He will change me when I’m depressed
God doesn’t want to just pat you on the back when you’re depressed - He wants to change you.
He uses the depression to help you make new choices, have new attitudes, help you bring change into your life.
Eph 5:13
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, (NIV)
He turns the dark places into light - even my depression and despair. I become the bright person.
Eph 5:9
9 Because of this light within you, you should do only what is good and right and true.
(TLB)
God dispels the darkness in my life because HE IS THE LIGHT.
Are you going through darkness during this holiday season?
I Jn 2:8
8 … the darkness in our lives disappears and the new light of life in Christ shines in. (TLB)
When the wise men followed the star (light) - probably many people saw it and made comments about it - but only wise men followed the light.
It is one thing to know the light of the world. It is another to follow it.
Everyone has a choice tonight. You can choose to live in the light or in the darkness.
What a wonderful Christmas gift?
