God’s Amazing Promises About His Light
Hanukkah 2022 starts on December 18th and ends on the evening of the 26th. We will celebrate Hanukkah in our Sunday Services by lighting the Menorah Candles. It is a reminder of God’s miracles and promises. Hanukkah remembers the battle of light and dark recorded in the Book of Daniel, a historical event when good overcame evil. God’s people won the day and defeated evil (Daniel 11:31-32).
Jesus the Messiah encourages us to walk in the Light! John 11:9-10, “Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble because he sees the Light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles because the Light is not in him.”
John 12:35-36, “Then Jesus said to them, A little while longer the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light, lest darkness overtakes you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may become sons of Light. These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.”
WE NEED TO SEE THE LIGHT AND THE SOURCE OF THE LIGHT!
Romans 13:11-14, “Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of Light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
Light Is Good: In response to the darkness over the surface of the deep (Genesis 1:2), God spoke, and Light came into being. Darkness is a metaphor for everything that is anti-God: the wicked (Proverbs 2:13), judgment (Exodus 10:21), and death (Psalms 88:12). Light is the first of the Creator’s works, manifesting the divine operation in a world that is darkness and chaos without it. The Light was the first creative act, “God saw that the light was good” (Genesis 1:3).
God Is Light: Light or goodness in antithesis to the evil associated with darkness. Light symbolizes the Holy God, and light signifies God’s presence and favor (2 Corinthians 4:6) in contrast to God’s judgment. Light is His word, salvation, goodness, truth, and life throughout the Old Testament. Light is the revelation of God’s love in Jesus Christ. Jesus declares that he is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus is the incarnate Word of God, who has come as the Light that enlightens all people (John 1:4-14) so that those believing in Him will no longer be in darkness.
John 3:19, “Jesus said this is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil.”
We are therefore called to be LIGHT to the world that is in the dark.
Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world — like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Why would anyone try to hide a light in the dark? Many Christians hide our light in the darkness by:
- Feeling embarrassed about God’s truth because so many others oppose His truth.
- Not sharing the Good News about the hope, we have in the Lord
- Not speaking out against injustice and unfairness
- Going along with the crowd for fear of reprisal
- Denying the truth rather than facing rejection
- Letting our sin disqualify our witness
- Living a self-centered life
- Our lack the boldness
It is Friday, but Sunday is coming!
Pastor Steve