Sermon On Light & Darkness

C. JoyBell C; an author of books on poetry and literature that have been described as relating mainly to the mysterious, the philosophical and the esoteric once remarked: “The dance between darkness and light will always remain - the stars and the moon will always need the darkness to be seen, the darkness will just not be worth having without the moon and the stars.” Genesis 1:1-5 reveals: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

Light and Darkness, in many respects, exist also in our personal lives. Light often represents the goodness and presence of God, whereas darkness may symbolize evil, mystery or fear. John 8:12 reminds us: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

It has been said that no one is born evil, evil is self-created, it is not a product of God. John 3:19 reminds us: “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” We were never born to hate others. Hatred is acrimony that is formed within us. Nelson Mandela, a South African born anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist once remarked: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

The need for love stems from early childhood. Everyone feeds on love, comfort and security in their lives. If these essential requirements are denied for a particular reason, then a person may often turn elsewhere for support and comfort. That could mean delving into ignobility. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 states: “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”

Idowu Koyenikan, an internationally acclaimed organizational consultant and author once remarked: “There is no denying that there is evil in this world but the light will always conquer the darkness.” If we seek the shelter of God, we effectively take refuge under His umbrella. This umbrella will not only protect and defend us from evil in life, it will provide comfort, love and reassurance. Psalm 91:1-5 reminds us: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.”

God is our protector and His shelter ensures that we can resist harmful influences. Life can sometimes appear to be a constant battle against the elements. Luke 6:47-48 reminds us: “We can weather any storm with God’s words as our foundation.” God is always there to watch over us and guide us. He is the constant light shining on the rocky pathway of life which gives us direction and saves us from getting lost. He will light our way forward in life. 1 John 1:5-7 states: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

An umbrella is defined as a portable hand-held device that was created to shield and protect. It provides a refuge and a fortress against the rain or possibly strong sunlight. It largely consists of a variety of metal, wood and plastic parts. Hinged ribs are connected to the main central pole, which normally includes a handle, possibly made of wood or other materials.

The ribs are usually covered in waterproof fabric or clear flexible thin plastic which, when fully opened, become taut to provide shelter from the elements in an often circular design that can freely open and close for ease of carrying. It is primarily designed to protect the upper body.