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Advent - Remember, Advent is looking back to the first coming of Christ and looking forward to the second coming of Christ.
The first Sunday of Advent, we answered why we have Advent – because there is darkness, sin, and death and hell, therefore God sent His Son to be the light and call humanity out of darkness.
Last Sunday, we talked about what it meant when Jesus said, “I am the light of the World.”
Again, He is the One light to call us out of darkness.
Now in this 3rd Sunday of Advent, let’s turn to Matthew 5. Matthew 5, 6 and 7, is what we call the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus and His disciples went up on a mountain where Jesus taught the fundamentals of Christian living – greatest sermon ever written.
Now Jesus is the Light of the world, but in
Now, we know Jesus is thee light of the world - He is the Savior of the World.
But here, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.”
Well, what does that mean?
If Jesus is the light, how can we be the light?
There is the “saving light,” – Jesus, that’s His position, not ours, we don’t save anyone – so our light must be something different.
So when Jesus says, “You are the light of the word,” I think what He means is this … our Light should be
1.
A Spotlight
What is a spotlight?
According to MW, a spotlight is “a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage.”
That, I believe is a great definition of how a Christian should live his or her life – and ultimately how the Church should function.
We illuminate the person on stage.
Who is at center stage of life?
Jesus.
Who then should take center stage every Sunday morning?
Jesus.
Who should take center stage every … Monday morning – and Tuesday and … when you’re at work.
Who should take center stage in your home?
In your marriage?
Who should be center stage if you’re not married?
As a Christian, you are the light of the world – used as a spotlight to illuminate THE Light of the world - Jesus Christ.
We illuminate Christ; not ourselves.
See, a spotlight doesn’t draw attention to itself, but points every eye to the main character on stage.
We want the One on stage to look good, to stand out, to be the center of attention.
Listen to what Paul said to the Philippian church -
In other words, my life is a spotlight to illuminate Christ.
From day to day, whether I’m living, suffering or dying – I want my whole life to magnify Jesus Christ and to point all eyes, especially the unsaved toward Christ.
Let me ask, as that your desire personally and corporately?
Do you and I live so that Jesus can be the center of attention?
Does He take the center stage of your life and this church?
And are you living in such a way to illuminate Christ?
If not, repent.
If Jesus is not the center – you need to repent and make Him the center.
(Look, no one is impressed that you and I attend church.)
Again, our light should be a spotlight – one who illuminates brilliantly the One on stage, Jesus Christ.
We are the light of the world – then Jesus says, Verse
So Jesus makes this analogy – You are the light and your light should be like a city or a lamp meaning … Our Light should be
2.
An Obvious Light
– Not obnoxious
A city at night and lamp in a dark room, when lit are visible, even from miles away – the light is obvious.
Let’s use MW again (theology 101) –
Obvious - “easily discovered, seen, or understood.”
This is a reverse analogy, but it highlights the point: When I was in the Army, one of the most important survival lessons we learned was light discipline.
Light discipline means that when in a combat situation, you don’t want to give the enemy a target.
So at night, we practice light discipline – meaning we don’t allow any light to escape from our tents, vehicles, our flashlights etc. – no light should be visible whatsoever.
When you’re out on the frontlines, you have to learn to operate under total darkness.
Why?
Because the slightest ray of light at night can be seen for miles and it makes you easily discovered and seen and the moment the enemy sees the light, where you are is obvious – and then they really light you up.
That’s a reversal of the analogy, but I think it highlights the point.
In the Army, we said don’t let your light shine – don’t be obvious, but Jesus tells us, “Let your light shine, let it be obvious, let your light be easily discovered or seen.
Why?
Throughout Scripture there is a sharp contrast between darkness and light.
Darkness often refers to wickedness, death and separation from God.
Light often represents the opposite - righteousness, life and God’s presence.
The whole reason we have Advent is because the world was in darkness (still is if you’re not in Christ) and so God the Father sent God the Son to bring light into the world.
Jesus did His part.
He came, He saw, He conquered death and then said, “I’m going to be gone for a while, a long while, now it’s your turn.”
Last week in Sunday school, we talked about punching holes in the darkness, well that’s what Jesus is saying – “Go punch some holes in the darkness!”
And for us to punch holes in the darkness, our light has to be obvious.
Here’s the thing - for a light to be useful, it must give adequate light, otherwise, it’s useless.
Ever use a flashlight and the bulb or battery was going dead?
It’s flickering, getting dimmer and dimmer and you’re walking through the woods or tying to fix your car or whatever?
It’s very frustrating – you start stumbling and fumbling … all because the light is useless.
That’s why Jesus said if you put a lamp under a basket – the lamp is useless.
And that is His point to His followers.
Unless your light is obvious, easily discoverable or seen, then how useful is your light.
That may sound harsh, but is Jesus’ point – the light our lives should be adequate for others to see Christ.
Of course, the greatest way is Love …
Why is it so important for our light to spotlight Jesus and to be obvious?
Because, listen carefully, the first and second point I said our light SHOULD be, meaning we don’t always live that way.
But this 3rd one is true regardless of how we live.
Here’s why it’s so important - Our Light
3. Is The Only Light
The reason our lives need to illuminate Jesus and our faith should be obvious is to bring others into the saving light – and guess what, we’re the only ones to do it.
If you and I don’t live for Christ, who will?
If you and I don’t show and tell people about Christ, who will?
Who else is going to light the way?
No one.
The unsaved need to see our light and it needs to be obvious – easily discovered and seen.
The way you and I live is vitally important in making Christ known.
People need to see Christians living honorable lives.
Let me tell you one way Christians can illuminate Christ and make His light obvious – live honorably.
Honorable here means beautiful, useful and of excellent morality.
Thursday and Friday, we had our big storm, right.
At least in Troutdale, it was stormy, windy, rainy, snowy, icy and dark and it shut almost everything down – most everyone stayed indoors.
That storm sapped the life out of Troutdale.
Now, Saturday morning, the power was out – been out most of the night.
Dark, cold, and gloomy – everything was covered with ice – tree limbs were broken, trees sagging.
Power came on around 9:30am – get this sense of relief – heat and light.
I head to a local coffee shop – still cloudy, still cold and icy, still gloomy.
About 10:30am – suddenly, all the clouds vanished the sun broke through!
It was like instant life!
Suddenly, there were people everywhere, the ice was glistening, ice was melting and the trees were rising (sounds) – the gloom was gone and life was abundant!
It was beautiful.
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