Christ is our Promise

Reading

Please stand for the reading of God’s word.

Isaiah 9:2-

Isaiah 9:2–7 NIV

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Let us pray

Please be seated

Let us pray

Opening Illustration

In the beginning, God said, “let there be light.” And there was light, and there was life, and there was goodness.

I grew up in the high desert. Up in the high desert you can really see the stars at night because everything is very dark. There aren’t nearly as many lights on the streets as there are here. I learned how to drive in that darkness. I did a lot of nighttime driving, coming home from youth group, or from a friends house. But the darkness didn’t bother me, I was used to it. Then I moved here to Riverside for college. My friends always made fun of me because I would always say that I moved to the city. It felt that way to me. When I drove around at night here, sometimes I would forget to turn my headlights on because of all the street lights. I was used to it being dark, feeling like I really needed those headlights. Once I was completely away from the desert for about a year or so, I went to visit my hometown, and I discovered something. I was no longer used to driving in the darkness. It no longer felt like my headlights were enough.

This morning we are focused on hope in our darkness. We try to get around in the darkness with our own silly hopes and expectations that are of temporary or insufficient nature, but once we have seen the true nature of God’s promises, those temporary things are no longer enough. God’s promise guides us in the darkness until the true daylight rises.

Story of Light and Darkness

Once upon a time there was a garden, where all of the goodness of God was fully manifest. It was good because it was beautiful. It was good because there was good food. It was good because there was no death. But the best part was that God was there. God put a man and a woman there, and they walked in the light with God, and everything was good.

But the people walking in light, saw a great darkness. The enemy crept into the garden, bringing with him darkness, casting shadow on the faith the people had in the goodness of God’s word. The people freely abandoned the light where they walked with God, and receded into the darkness, believing that they could be their own gods. They believed that if they did the things that gave them happiness, however brief, that they would find fulfillment.

And this way of life became a cycle. As people sought to fulfill themselves in the darkness, they became ever more the slaves of it, unable to break free of it. They became a people of darkness into which all of their descendants were born, doomed to be captive to it. They walked in their transgressions and sins, and followed the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is at work in the disobedient, gratifying the cravings of the flesh and following its desires and thoughts, by nature, children of wrath. The people of God entered into a cycle of disobedience. Constantly doing what was right in their own eyes, falling captive to their enemies, finding mercy and restoration, only to blindly fall into disobedience again. On top of all of this, creation groans with pains like childbirth with the weight of the curse upon it. Earthquakes, floods, famine take their toll on the earth and its inhabitants.

Application 1

Here in this time and place, we are incredibly blessed above and beyond what most of the world may take for granted. But I know one thing that is as true of you as it is for them: you have seen this darkness too, you have touched it and experienced it. You have felt its echoes, you have seen its horrors, you have experienced its futility. Whether only the trivial, stubbing a toe, feeling bored, or the extreme, loss of a loved one, depression, loss of purpose. We have all seen the darkness, and if you haven’t then you are either in for a rude awakening, or you have been lost to it.

God’s Promises

But it was not always to be so. A ray o

But it wasn’t always meant to be this way. Even when the man and woman were first cast from the garden out of God’s presence there was a ray of hope that remained. God promised that the offspring of the woman would come and crush the head of the snake, breaking the power of sin and restoring God’s people to his presence. They lived in expectation of this promise. Was this promised offspring Abel? Was it their son Seth after Abel was gone?

Was it their son Seth after Abel was gone? Generations later, God called a man named Abraham out of a dark world and promised him great things. “Count the stars if you can, so shall your offspring be.” Those offspring were to be the vehicle to bless the entire world. God’s promise of redemption for all painted as pin pricks of light against a dark canvas of sky. Abraham lived in faith and expectation that God would keep his promise until his son Isaac was born. This promise persisted to King David who was told of one who would sit on his throne for all of eternity. The mysterious Messiah was the promised descendant. Who was this great King that that the Israelites awaited in expectation? Perhaps Solomon? King Hezekiah maybe? Sometimes we wait in expectation a long time .

Generations later, God called a man named Abraham out of a dark world and promised him great things. “Count the stars if you can, so shall your offspring be.” Those offspring were to be the vehicle to bless the entire world. God’s promise of redemption for all was painted as pin pricks of light against a dark canvas of sky. Abraham lived in faith and expectation that God would keep his promise until his son Isaac was born. This promise persisted to King David who was told of one who would sit on his throne for all of eternity. The mysterious Messiah was the promised descendant. Who was this great King that that the Israelites awaited in expectation? Perhaps Solomon? King Hezekiah maybe? But Sometimes we wait in expectation a long time\.

Isaiah 9

And so we come to the beginning of advent. We have a great darkness that has fallen, but in that darkness a ray of hope in the expectation of the promises of God. Now Isaiah speaks those promises again, but no longer as pin pricks against the sky, but the sun itself, a blazing light bringing in the day:

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9

The promises of God to Abraham of many descendants fulfilled:

Isaiah 9:3 NIV

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

Their enemies defeated and their bonds broken:

Isaiah 9:4–5 NIV

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

How has this thing come to pass? Who is the harbinger of light who has brought these things to pass?

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6–7 NIV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:

He will reign on David’s throne. This is descendant who was promised long ago, God’s forever King who will crush the power of Satan and of sin. But there is an unexpected twist. He will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” What child is this? Who will rule forever? Who’s government will actually be good? Who breaks the bonds of sin? It is God himself. Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

True Promise

Look back to the garden. People tend to focus on the amenities, the good food, the absence of pain and death. They ignore the main feature of the garden. God himself.

On this day, when we recognize hope in the Advent season, ask yourself where you put your hope. Is it in the promise of riches? The promise of success? There are plenty of preachers who promise you these things if you follow them. Is it fulfillment in your love life? A fulfilling career? These things cannot live up to our expectation. But the promises of Scripture, both those from the past and those that look forward to the future are fulfilled in God himself, Jesus Christ. Putting your hope in anything else is only darkness.

What are you living in expectation of? Are your hopes merely the amenities of life, or is it the one who gives life himself. Christ is our promise! And he is the only one who can fulfill us. Walk no longer in darkness, but turn to the one who is light and life and goodness. Our hope is the King himself. Christ is our promise.