OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next 

PLACES OF LIGHT

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Genesis 1:3-5

 

And God said, Let there be light:  and there was light.  And God saw the light, that is was good:  and God divided the light from the darkness.  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.  And the evening and the morning were the first day.

 

B.      God created Darkness.  Thus, darkness must serve some purposes.

1.       It enables us to appreciate the Light.

2.       It causes us to cease from our labors so we can obtain the rest we need (John 9:4).

 

…the night cometh when no man can work.

 

3.       It is good for plants to have a period of darkness.  If not, they would continue the process of photosynthesis for 24 hours.  This process works best with a built in period of rest, that is, darkness.

4.       Some of the creatures in the animal kingdom function at night.  One of the best-known nighttime creatures is the bat.

 

C.     Darkness also has a bad side.

1.       Evil often lurks in the dark:  evil people, storms happen when the sky grows dark, hungry animals, biting insects, etc.

2.       When darkness settles in, the freedom to move about is diminished.

3.       If we do need to move about in the darkness, there is a greater chance of harm because we cannot see the obstacles in the way.

4.       When the darkness falls, it seems as though our sicknesses and ailments increase.

5.       Darkness also increases loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

 

D.     The evil of darkness usually outweighs the good aspects of darkness.  Most prefer light rather than darkness.

 

E.      Question:  Did you know that this world is often described as “darkness”?  Let’s look at three verses in the book of Ephesians.

1.       Ephesians 5:8

 

For ye were sometimes darkness…

 

2.       Ephesians 5:11

 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

3.       Ephesians 6:12

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

4.       Those who are in darkness:

a.       Are in subjection to the rulers of darkness.

b.      Have their understanding darkened.

c.       Participate in the works of darkness.

d.      Are on a road bound for outer darkness in the hereafter.

 

F.      One would think that those who are in darkness would prefer to be in the light.  Thus, in this lesson, we want to introduce those in darkness to “Places of Light.”

 

I.                    GOD IS ONE PLACE OF LIGHT

 

A.     1 John 1:5

 

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

 

1.       God is light. 

a.       He is the source of all other light that exists.

b.      James refers to Him as “the Father of lights” (Jms. 1:17).

2.       In Him is no darkness at all.

a.       In Him dwells holiness and truth.

b.      There is not a smidgen of evil or falsehood in Him.

 

B.      This light is brighter than any mortal man can imagine.

1.       No man is able to approach it (1 Tim. 6:16).

 

Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto…

 

2.       When Moses entered into the presence of God, he returned to the children of Israel and his face shined (Exo. 32:30).

 

And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

 

C.     Three additional thoughts:

1.       When we are reconciled to God, we leave darkness and become children of light (Eph. 5:8).

 

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of light.

 

2.       When we pray, we enter into the light of God’s glorious presence (Matt. 6:9).

3.       In heaven, we will enter into the light of God glorious presence (Rev. 21:23).

 

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it:  for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

 

II.                 JESUS IS A PLACE OF LIGHT

 

A.     Twice Jesus refers to Himself as “the light of the world.”

1.        John 8:12

 

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world;  he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 

2.       John 9:5

 

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 

B.      In the Prologue to his gospel, John refers to Jesus as “the true Light” (John 1:9).

 

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

 

C.     When Jesus became a man, He did not radiate like He did in His preexistent state.  However, on the Mount of Transfiguration, this glorified state was revealed to three of His apostles:  Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17:2).

 

And was transfigured before them:  and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as light.

 

D.     In His high priestly prayer in John 17, He prayed for glory to be restored unto Him (John 17:5).

 

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

 

E.      John told us that Jesus came to light every man that cometh into the world.

1.       But, according to John 1:5, the darkness does not always comprehend the light.

2.       Too, men refuse the light of Jesus Christ because they love darkness more than light (John 3:19).

3.       Others are in darkness because they trust in their own imaginations (Rom. 1:21).

4.       Some remain in darkness because their minds have been blinded by the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

 

III.              GOD’S WORD IS A PLACE OF LIGHT

 

A.     Another place of light is the Word of God.

1.       Psalm 119:105

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

2.       Proverbs 6:23a

 

For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light…

 

3.       In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the apostle Paul refers to the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.

 

B.      We said earlier that those in darkness have their understanding darkened by the evil one (Rom. 2:21).

 

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

 

C.     The purpose of the gospel is to enlighten the mind with truth and remove the falsehoods of error from the minds of those who are lost.

1.       Psalm 19:8

 

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

 

2.       Paul tells us that he went forth with the gospel in order “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God…” (Acts 26:18).

 

IV.              THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF LIGHT

 

A.     The church is not a building.  It is composed of the saved.

 

B.      The saved are called lights in God’s Word.

1.       Matthew 5:14

 

Ye are the light of the world…

 

2.       1 Thessalonians 5:5

 

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:  we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

 

C.     Our lights do not derive from our own goodness.  Our lights are the reflection of Jesus, the true Light, living in us (Gal. 2:20).

 

I am crucified with Christ:  nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me…

 

D.     There is one major difference in the light of the Christian and the other three lights that have been mentioned. 

1.       Our lights can grow dim. 

2.       In fact, our lights can go out.

3.       Some might ask:  “How can this happen?”

a.       We involve ourselves is immorality.

b.      We once against believe the lies and false doctrines of Satan and man.

c.       We cease doing good works.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     We have mentioned another place of life briefly in this lesson.  It is that place called heaven.

1.       Remember, heaven has no need of the sun or moon for God’s glory lightens that place along with the light of the Lamb of God (Rev. 21:23). 

2.       In Revelation 21:25, it is affirmed:  “…for there is no night there.”

 

B.      My friends, the only other alternative involves a place of outer darkness.  The words “outer darkness” appear three times in Matthew’s gospel and describe three different categories of people.

1.       The Jews who rejected Jesus (Matt. 8:12).

 

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness…

 

2.       Those who were not wearing the proper attired at the marriage feast (Matt. 22:13).

 

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness.

 

3.       The one talent man who refused to use increase his talent for his lord (Matt. 25:30).

 

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness…

 

C.     Darkness is not usually a happy place.  It certainly will not be a place of joy in eternity.  Thus, we exhort you to come to Jesus.  Have your heart opened with the light of truth.  Put on the true Light in the waters of baptism.  At that time, you will become a child of light.  Then, you must shine brightly throughout your life in order to enjoy the glorious light of heaven.