As a child, I remember playing with a small flashlight. It wasn’t much fun in the daylight because you could hardly tell it was on. But in a dark room or especially at night, it was amazing to me how it lit things up. As a child, darkness was scary, you never knew what lurked there. But just a little flashlight could dispel that darkness.
As we grow up, we learn that we live in a dark world that is filled with evil. A dark world that needs light to drive the darkness away. Today, we begin a new message series called “Shine in a Dark World.” Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed with the increasing darkness around us. Yet, the darker our world, the greater the impact our light will have.
Philippians 2:15 (ESV) … be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
We live in a crooked and twisted generation that is characterized by the darkness of sin. As we follow Jesus, His light shines through us as lights in the world. These lights do two things. They repel those who want nothing to do with Jesus and they attract those who are ready to repent of their sin. We are tempted to hide our lights so that we don’t stand out in a dark world. But that’s exactly what we’re not supposed to do.
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The only hope for our world is for believer to let the light of Jesus shine through them, lighting up the dark night of the world. In our new series “Shine in a Dark World” we’re going to look at the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah began his ministry to Judah under the godly king Josiah. Yet, there was no major repentance in Judah and things got darker and darker. Few listened to Jeremiah’s message, yet he was faithful to God’s call.
I believe that the example of Jeremiah will encourage us to let your lights shine in the dark world of our time. Today, our message is entitled “Find Direction from God.” God calls each of us and gives us direction on how to let our lights shine in a dark world. So, let’s have open ears to hear what the Spirit desires to speak to us this morning.