"The Light Shines"

ISAIAH 60:1-6

Matthew 2:1-12

“The Light Shines”

By: Rev. Kenneth Emerson Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA

A father told his young son to go to bed.

The boy started up the stairs but realized it was dark and he couldn’t reach the light switch.

So, he went back to his dad, but his father told him to go on up because God was there.

The boy knew that this was his father’s final answer, so he started back up the stairs.

But on the first step he stopped, looked up, and said, “God if you are there, please don’t move or you’ll

scare me to death!”

I would imagine that most of us can relate to this little boy’s fears.

All of us, at some point in our lives, have been unable to reach the light switch.

All of us, at some point in our lives, have been trapped in the darkness of this world...looking and praying

for light...but not knowing where to look.

And in our Old Testament lesson for this morning, the prophet Isaiah gives us a strong message of

encouragement...

...the light will come to us!

“See darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his

glory appears over you.”

In the Bible, darkness is a symbol of gloom, oppression and sin, and the Lord Himself is portrayed as

the Light!

The prophet Isaiah declares that the darkness of this world will be overcome by the Light of Israel--Who is the

promised Messiah!...

...for He is the Light that was prophesied to rise upon the Jews.

“Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

The first coming of Christ was to have a powerful attractiveness for the Gentiles...or the non-Jews...that

the Old Testament never had.

In our society we have heard a great deal about equal access under the law.

The handicapped are deemed to have equal access to public places.

Laws that were framed to maintain privileges for one group over another have been challenged and

overturned.

Minorities have successfully sued for their rights under the law.

But when it comes to our relationship with God, there are no rights of equal access or to any access at

all.

God told us that if we were to eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil we would die.

And when we did eat from this tree, we were banished from the garden...unable to reach out our hands and

also eat from the Tree of Life, and live forever.

However, the Bible reveals that our God is gracious and does grant us equal access, not under the law, but

under grace!

And the Jews were the first to be given this amazing privilege....

...but now the doors to the kingdom are open to all people!

The only thing that can keep a person outside in the darkness is unbelief....or a desire to remain under

the miserable delusion of sin.

But the Light Shines!

Jesus has come.

We have access to God through His Son!

And in our Gospel lesson we read about the visit of the Wise Men.

Many of us have probably seen the motto: “Wise men still seek Him.”

The Wise Men followed the star on a long and arduous journey to pay tribute to the new king.

And wise people are still seekers!

Like the little boy in our opening story, they want desparately to be able to reach up and turn on the

light switch...and dispell the darkness.

Jesus encourages all of us to seek so that we might find.

And once that light switch is turned on, all things become new...we are born again... “our light has

come.”

But this is just the beginning of our most exciting and eternal journey where God’s light shines on all

the many layers and mysteries of life.

Yes, Wise people are still seekers!

When we think we have life or God or anything else all wrapped up, we stop seeking and growing.

Christian Discipleship is an invitation to follow Christ on a journey of faith.

And we continue this journey by starting our days with quit time with God, as we regain our focus,

read the Scriptures....asking for God’s guidance....as new truths come to light...and we begin each day with

Scripture, meditation and prayer...and we grow.

We also continue this journey as we consistently assemble together with other Christians for Bible

Study, fellowship, Sunday school, and worship....and we grow.

For our calling is to be the Church of Jesus Christ--those through whom others find the light of Christ!

The prophet Isaiah is speaking to us--the Church--when he says: “Nations will come to you....Then

you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy.”