Advent—The Light

The people who walked in darkness    have seen a great light;those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,    on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:2

Eleven years ago, something very sad happened in my church. That night I learned that the world isn’t safe, but that God is real, that He sent his light into the darkness, and that the darkness will not overcome God’s light. In this final segment of the advent podcasts, we dwell on the coming of Christ’s light, and our role as bearers of that light in the world.

God is light

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 1:5-6

2. God sends his light into the world through Christ

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:1-4

3. We are called to walk as children of the light























Walk as children of the light.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”

Therefore  be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,  making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 

Ephesians 5:6-16