I was recently studying my bible in preparation for a sermon about the Christmas story. I was reading in Isaiah 9 about the prophecies of the coming Messiah. In verse 2 it says “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness a light will shine.”(NLT) Also in John 1:4,5 it says “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” The Bible also says this in John 3:18-21 ” There is no judgement against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgement is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” After reading these verses I began to meditate on them and think about light and darkness.
I was reminded of one of my adventures as a teenage lost person concerning a local area cave that we used to venture down into. Some friends and I decided we would go caving to cool off on a hot summer day. We grabbed my propane lantern, hopped in my friend’s car and off we went(that was the extent of our preparation). We arrived at the cave, parked on the side of the highway and started our little “three hour tour, three hour tour”. Little did we know our “tiny ship was about to be tossed”. We hadn’t gone in far when we decided to check out a small opening to the right. We started out on our knees expecting that it would open up as we got into it a little more but soon found out that it only got smaller as we went along. We finally decided that it was getting too tight and we should turn around and head out. At the spot where we stopped, there was a wine bottle with a candle stuck in it that I pulled out and stuck it in my back pocket. We crawled out and started our trip back into the depths of the cave. About a mile in we got to another dead end where my friend who was holding the lantern decided to try to go up a small ledge into an opening in the ceiling of the cave. About half way up he slipped on the slippery rocks and was about to fall about 20 feet when he made the decision to let go of the lantern and stop himself from falling. Well the lantern didn’t survive the 20 ft. drop but my friend didn’t have to find out if he would have! Did I mention we were about a mile inside the earth? We soon found out what total darkness was really like! My other friend had a lighter in his pocket and I just happened to have a 4in. candle in mine. We lit the candle and started our slow escape from the total darkness we no longer wanted to be a part of! We finally made our way out after striking our heads and elbows on a few unseen hanging rocks but with no major injuries. We also had a new found appreciation for light versus the total darkness we had just experienced!
“So what’s the comparison” you may ask? As the human race we have a desire for the adventurous and unknown. Sometimes we think it would be exciting to venture out into the darkness to see if there is something fun or exciting we are missing out on.We like the forbidden and dangerous things of life no matter what others may tell us. As we grow up there are “voices” that try to teach us the right things to do. It may be our parents, other adults, our conscience, or the Holy Spirit if we are saved. Sometimes we listen to them and learn some things the easy way. Other times we choose to do what we think would be enjoyable and we wander into the darkness not at all prepared for what may be about to happen! Then after our light goes out we find out how dark the place we are in really is! This is when we will no longer desire the adventure that’s in the dark and we long for the light. When we were small children we never told our parents that we were afraid of the light. We always cried out from fear of the darkness! It’s time we “become as little children” again and be afraid of the darkness of sin and what we have been warned about by the “voices” in our lives! We need to do whatever it takes to get to the light and to safety!
Jesus said “I am the light of the world”. So this Christmas as you hang your lights on your Christmas tree, remember that The Light came into the world to be hung on a tree for us to be forgiven of our sins! The bible tells us in Ephesians 5:8,9 “For once you were full of darkness,but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.”(NLT) 1John 1:7 says “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” Therefore let us flee from the darkness and run to the Light! MERRY CHRISTMAS
