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Light Of Our World John 8:12 (The Message)

“Jesus once again addressed them: ‘I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.’”

The first created act of God was the creation of "light". Yet, this was not the first form of light, for the Bible says that "God is light", before physical light was created supernatural light already existed, therefore the spiritual is greater than the physical.The greatest problem for humanity is spiritual darkness! Sin brought about a darkness far worse than the darkness at sundown. The reason people have such foreboding at night is that there is a natural AND supernatural repulsion is us toward darkness. It is light that gives our planet its life, exposed to constant darkness the world would die as we know it! The same is true spiritually; if humans stay in a state of spiritual darkness they will find that there is no life possible for their soul.A church produced a Christmas play a few years ago. A young boy had only one line. He was to stand and say, "I am the light of the world." However, on the night of the production, he froze at the sight of so many people and forgot his line. His mother was seated on the front row and began mouthing his line for him. Following her cue, he said, "My Mother is the light of the world."

I. LIGHT THAT REMOVES DARKNESS

Jesus is the Light.

Because He is the Son of God He has every reason to claim to be the world’s light.
He is the Light that removes the darkness.
During the days surrounding the birth of Christ there were many references to light.
It was men who came from the east because they saw His star.

It was shepherds in the field who were terrified at the Glory of God that shone all around them.

It was John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, who spoke these words, “because of the tender mercies of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” It was an old man by the name of Simeon who praised God while holding the baby Jesus and said, “For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the gentiles. . .”

We believe that Jesus Christ is the source Light that can change lives.
We believe that this Light is a light that shines a ray of hope to people with problems in their lives.
We believe that this Light provides help for people with addictions.
We believe that this Light is a source of strength for individuals who are too weak to help themselves.

It is the little baby who came to this dark world so long ago that provides us with the Light that enables us to find our way when all the world seems dark. A woman named Rose Crawford had been blind for 50 years. "I just can't believe it!" she gasped as the doctor lifted the bandages from her eyes after her recovery from delicate surgery in an Ontario hospital. She wept for joy when for the first time in her life a dazzling and beautiful world of form and color greeted eyes that now were able to see. The amazing thing about the story, however, is that 20 years of her blindness had been unnecessary. She didn't know that surgical techniques had been developed, and that an operation could have restored her vision at the age of 30. The doctor said, "She just figured there was nothing that could be done about her condition. Much of her life could have been different." As I read the news account of her case, some questions came to mind. Why did she continue to assume that her situation was hopeless? Had no one told her about the wonderful advances in eye surgery? Then I thought of the plight of those unreached by the Gospel. How many will go on living in moral blindness unless we bring them to the Savior? Millions will never know anything but spiritual darkness because no one has shared with them the Light that has come into the world.

Do you know the Jesus who brings light to your darkness?
Have you ever allowed the Christ of Christmas to shine in your life?

II. LIGHT THAT REQUIRES A DECISION

The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south." Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north." The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am the captain!" Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a seaman third class Jones." Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am a battleship." Then the reply came: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a lighthouse." In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest--something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our peril. Decisions are very important. One little decision can change and alter your life forever.

Just within the last few hours one little sentence has cost a man the prestige and powerful job that he has held for years. Trent Lott spoke one sentence a few days ago and it has reverberated around the country. One sentence. Spoken in an obscure place. Poor choice of words but the consequences have been monumental. Just as the Republicans regained control of the Senate of the U.S. Trent Lott, the Senate Majority Leader, lost what is considered to be one of the most powerful positions in this country. Why? Because of one bad decision.

The question that I have for you today is what kind of decision have you made about Jesus Christ?

Have you accepted Him as the Lord of your life?
Have you ask Him to forgive you for the sins you have committed?

I have never understood why people celebrate Christmas who have never accepted Jesus as the Son of God.

The pastor of a church in California put a sign in front of his church during the advent season that said, "Jesus is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas." He received a complaint from a woman in the community who took exception with the message. She closed the conversation by saying, "I don't think the church should try to drag religion into every holiday."

This Christmas could be the best Christmas you have ever experienced because you have accepted the Christ of Christmas. You have accepted the ultimate gift. The gift of salvation.

What will your decision be?

As we sing a couple more songs I want to encourage you to think about what kind of decisions you have been making in your life.

Think about what the Light of the world wants to do for you.

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark: the real tragedy of life is when men and women are afraid of the light.

2002/12/22