A Light That Gives Meaning

Happy Sabbath, everyone! It's good to be here. It's good to be here. Drove 10 hours yesterday. We really do get along. Being in a van with some guys for that long in the cities that we've gone through, we have a good crew, and we get along. It's exciting. It's an exciting work that we're doing. The people that I work with, I could say that I have love for these people. The team that we have and the crew that we have, it's really fantastic. We're happy to be here, and we hope that you come out tomorrow to see the event. I'm encouraged every time that I've seen it. I've been to all of them except the last two I took off. It'll be a good event, so hopefully you can come out. There's an old light bulb hanging in the Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department in Livermore, California. It's a very old light bulb. It's one of these light bulbs, just a glass light bulb. It's not frosted. You can see the filaments glowing, a nice warm glow. It's in one of these pendant lights like these, except it's just a cable. There's a little bit of dust on the light bulb. You can see some cobwebs on it. It's hanging there. It serves as sort of a nightlight for some of the engines in the fire department. It's rather unassuming. You'd actually wouldn't probably notice it if you walked in, because all the other lights around it are different and a little bit brighter. It's an exposed bulb just hanging from a cable, and you would probably never notice it because it just doesn't seem very important. Evidence suggests that this light bulb is hung in four different locations. First was a hose cart on L Street, then it moved to a garage in downtown Livermore, used by the fire and police departments. When the police department had consolidated with the fire department, it moved again in a newly constructed city hall, where the fire departments and police departments are to this day. It's been in four different locations. Just a light bulb doesn't seem very important. In 2001, this light bulb reached its centennial. It was originally hung in 1901. It was hung in a hose cart in the fire department. In 2011, this light bulb reached one million hours of runtime. This little light bulb, hand-blown carbon filament light bulb, manufactured in Shelby, Ohio by the Shelby Electric Company in the late 1890s. The wattage began around 60 watts. After a few power outages that it had suffered, it currently glows at 4 watts.

Still glowing, though. Serves as a nightlight. The bulb was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. On its centennial, President George W. Bush wrote a letter of recognition to the celebration that was read there.

Just a little light bulb hanging for over 116 years.

The bulb was created for the purpose of illuminating, giving light to those who would otherwise be in darkness. The light hangs now just above an engine, unassuming, still glowing, still doing its job, 116 years later.

God has called a group of people out of this world. He's called a group of people out of a darkened world, and He has a job for them. He has a job for them. He has an expectation for them. He's looking for people who are willing to yield themselves and become something different. Something bright.

You are a part of that. Let's begin in Matthew 5. Matthew 5. Verse 1. Seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him, and then He opened His mouth. We know this sermon very well. Let's go to verse 14. Jesus says to them, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. You. You. You are a light to the world. Now, our team, we drove here 10 hours yesterday in the van. We've been going around to cities around the Midwest, sharing a message of hope. We've been bearing truth that shines bright in a world of darkness, sharing a message that really gives meaning to people and their lives. But it's not just the work of the home office. It's not just the work of the presenters. Jesus Christ is talking to the multitudes here, to all those who would change their ways and turn and follow Him, and He says, You. You. Are a light.

You are out there every single day, brushing elbows with people who have no idea of the truth, representing God's way of life. You are a bearer of the Holy Spirit. You are a bearer of God's truth.

You are a bearer of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Do you see yourself that way? Do you see yourself as that city on a mountain? You know, when I read this, and you're thinking about, okay, so if the city is lit up, I'm thinking of a night time, you know, where someone who is a traveler is going, and you know, you see a city, you know, sometimes when you're driving late at night and you finally see the lights of the city you're trying to get to, it's like, oh, there it is.

You are a light to the world, like a city glowing in the night, a place of refuge, a place of truth. And when you read this, you know, for me, I'm like, me? I'm just a regular old guy from the Midwest. How can that be? Really? How does this happen? What's God doing in our lives? Let's start by going into Isaiah 42. Let's see how this job of ours to be a light to the world starts for us. Isaiah 42, we see that this is a, mentioning Jesus Christ here, prophecy of Jesus Christ, and in verse 6, it says, let's start in verse 5, Thus says the Lord God, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth, and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it. I, the Lord, called you in righteousness, and I will hold your hand, and I will keep you, and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles. If you turn over just a couple more chapters to Isaiah 49, you'll see a very similar statement in the same verse, verse 6.

And, indeed, he says, is it too small a thing that you should be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the preserved ones of Israel? I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth. Well, that's Jesus Christ's job, then, right? I can't be a light. Jesus himself said, in John, he said, I'm the light of the world. But then he says, in John 8, verse 12, he says, He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. You see, Jesus, He shined a light for us. He shined a light for us the way that we should go. And we are also to show that light. Tomorrow you will hear in one of the messages that we are to be an imitator. We, too, who bear the light through the Holy Spirit, are to share that light.

Now, this doesn't mean that we are glaring our light in others' eyes. It doesn't come off cocky or showy or preachy or arrogant, but simply living a life of righteousness, confident in our faith for God and Jesus Christ. That's what it looks like. What it looks like is us, every day, as examples to the people we come in contact with, reflecting righteous character of our elder brother, avoiding hatred and contentions and attitudes of anger and jealousy, but exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit of love and joy and peace, kindness and goodness.

That's what that city on the mountain looks like. Jesus sees his followers as bearers of light, glowing cities of refuge, where people are scrambling around in darkness, looking for any kind of hope or truth or understanding of what's going on in their lives. You are a light. You are to be seen from afar, and your life should be attractive to those who are seeking righteousness and truth. They should see you and say, you know what they have? I like that. There is such confidence in their beliefs, and even in the world that we see around us and where it's going, still understanding that God is in full control.

The followers of Jesus Christ are bearers of his light. Let's go back to Matthew and see what the next verse says there. Verse 14, you are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Verse 15, nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

You know, when I read this, I think, why would anyone do that? Put your light under a basket? And you know, understanding what this is talking about, a way of truth in our lives, there's only a couple reasons why we would do that. One, fear. We're fear. We're fearful. Fear of persecution? Does that why we would hide our light under a basket? We know that when we read what Jesus said, he said, you're going to be hated for being different.

We've all lived our lives as if we've been on the precipice of the kingdom of God, and that's good. That's the way we should live our lives. But knowing what's coming before his return shouldn't cripple us from being lights to the world. You know, it's interesting that the word here, he says, don't put it under a basket.

And when I think of a basket, you know, some translations say bowl, but a basket, I think, okay, a woven basket, if I put a light, if I put that over a light, and I get close to it, I'm still going to see a little bit of that light leaking out. And I think, you know, what's going on here? If someone comes into our lives and they see us hiding the truth, just like we would hide it under a basket, a little bit of light would leak out.

Not people from far away, they wouldn't see it, but when people came close to us, they'd say, what's this person hiding? I see something leaking out and I can't put my finger on what it is. Hiding our lights under a basket is not what we're supposed to be doing. We're supposed to be putting it up high for people to see from far away. We don't want others to get close and say, you know, that person, they seem like faithful, they seem faithful, but they don't really, you know, they try to keep that close to their chest.

They try to keep it under them, within themselves. You know, I'm guilty of this. I'm guilty of doing this. I know in my past, you know, I grew up in the church. I came in when I was five. And I know what it feels like to be a teenager trying to just, you know, fly under the radar, but still always knowing that when I go to school, I'm different. I know that feeling. I know that feeling of like, ugh, if I was like everybody else, things would be a lot easier. That's not true, though.

I was talking to Mrs. Myers yesterday, and she said that her son said, you know what, no matter what, in school, they are going to find a reason to make fun of you. If you're a football player, you're smart, you're a nerd then, I mean, like, that's just the way school is. So I know as I've grown up and I've had these feelings, I realize that it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how it makes me feel, because I have always believed in the truth. And I've told people, you know, the feast is a church convention.

That's the way to hide your light under a basket. You know, when I was younger, my faith was weaker. I've hope I've grown from them. We can't let fear keep us from sharing the hope that's within us. Because really, I mean, I really know, deep down, that God has a plan and He is working out salvation for all of mankind, not just me, not just you, but for the whole world we see out there.

And when I put away the fear I have, what others think, you know, it's freedom. It's freedom. Let's go over to Acts, Acts 17. See something here. We can't let fear keep us from sharing the hope that's within us. If we are imitating Jesus Christ, we will not be living a life of fear or doubt, or what do these people think about me? We won't be showing in people's eyes, but when someone asks us, we are ready.

This verse has always been interesting to me. Acts 17, starting in verse 5. The Jews who were persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the market place, gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the Decree's of Seer, the Caesar saying, there's another king, Jesus.

These people were so mad, and they saw what was going on, and they said, these people are turning the world upside down. Everything that we know, they have flipped the tables. Everyone that they came in contact with, they were sharing a message of truth.

They turned the world upside down. I haven't turned very many worlds upside down. Perhaps as lights of the world, we should do a little bit more turning upside down. What's interesting, the apostles, they were not always super bold. We see Peter throughout all of the Gospels, and then Acts make a major transformation.

Peter denied Jesus three times, and where were the other apostles at Jesus' crucifixion? Let's go to Acts, because even after they received the Holy Spirit, they had to ask for more help. I personally rely on this scripture quite a bit, because in Acts 4, we see the apostles knowing what's coming ahead for them, and doing something about it. They just didn't sit back and say, I don't know what we're going to do. Everyone's telling us not to preach anymore. This is what they did. In Acts 4, verse 23, being let go, they went to their companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

This is Peter and John. So when they heard that they had raised their voice to God, so here they are in prayer. Lord, you are God, who made the heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of your servant David have said, Why do the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth shook their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.

Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats. They are plotting against us. They are threatening against us. And grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word.

Sometimes I have to read that. I have to read that. It's comforting. It's comforting to me. Because here you have people who were taught personally by Jesus Christ, and they said, You know what? We need a little bit more. Because it feels like everything is against us.

You know, this saying something that is counter to what everyone else believes isn't comfortable for everyone. Now, some of you, I know, like the contingent. But it doesn't come natural for all of us.

So when I read this, and you know, it doesn't show that they had a lack of faith or confidence in the plan of salvation, or what they were teaching, but they said, you know what? It's hard and we need a little help. And that's what they did. They went together in prayer, and they asked for boldness.

We can go to our Father and ask Him through the power of His Spirit. When there are times when we feel like, you know what? It's hard being a light. It's hard standing out. It is hard being different. We can ask for boldness.

And that power that He gives us, it's not a power of fear, but of love and of sound mind. We can call on Him to be our strength. And I've read this in Acts so many times, as I've grown up. So we can't let fear keep us from being a light to the world. Now the other reason we could put our light under a basket, which we have to be careful for, and we have to pray for strength, and we pray that this is not the reason, and that is shame. Jesus Christ mentions it twice. He says it in Luke 9 and also in Mark 8. Let's read what it says here, because in Mark 8 He adds an extra line about what He's saying about those who know His truth.

Mark 8.

Mark 8. Mark 9.

Verse 38, He says, For whoever is ashamed of Me, in My words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of Him the Son of Man will also be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. What's interesting here, what He adds here in Mark, that does not in Luke, is that He says, If He's ashamed of Me, in My words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, He's almost saying, like, okay, so in contrast of the world that you see around you, if you are ashamed of all the good and truth that I have, I'll be ashamed of Him. Look at what God's offering. That's what He's saying. Look at all that we are offering. I, Jesus Christ, and My Father, look what we are offering. How could you? You can't be ashamed of that. Now, growing up in the church, you know, there's some things I've had to get over. And right now, my daughter, she's in second grade. She's a fun little girl. And she's right at the age, right before kids are sort of cognizant, cognizant, that they're different. She, you know, we go to the feast, and she doesn't keep Christmas, and right now, all of those things are okay. It's okay. But I know, from a personal experience, that as she gets older, she's going to start to see, you know what, I'm different. I'm different than everyone else in my school. And so at this point in her life, I'm trying to teach her, and by extension, myself, saying, you know what, this is an opportunity. Some of these kids will never hear about the Feast of Tabernacles again. They will never see someone eat a matzo during the Days of Unleavened Bread. This is her moment to be a light to those kids. And maybe one day, who knows what God's working in people's lives? They'll say, you know what, there was this weird girl, kind and cute and bubbly, who would leave for ten days in the fall. What was that? It's an opportunity for us, every day, as we come in contact with people, to share the truths of the Bible.

She's a light to the people in her school, and she doesn't even know it yet.

What will people say about your light? Matthew says, nowhere do they put a lamp under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let's go to Matthew 5. We'll read that last verse. Verse 16. Matthew 5. Well, I'll just start where we began. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Verse 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. This is what we are supposed to be doing. You have an opportunity to shine a light, and people say, you know what? There is something different about them, and they claim it is because of their God. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. I went to a funeral last fall. It might have been a year ago now. This funeral changed my life because there was a man there who had died, and his family had invited people from all through the community who he had done work with. They all shared stories about him after having done work with them, telling them about the Kingdom of God. Members of the community. Yeah, I remember when he came up, and he was telling me about this kingdom, and he shared stories, and he pointed to God. I was moved by that. That changed me. That funeral. The example, he wasn't a perfect man, but what he did do was leave a mark in those people's lives. He was a light. He was a light to them. He spoke boldly, confident in God's plan. No matter the world's situations, he pointed to God.

We're to let our deeds shine to give glory to God. John 7. Jesus says this. John 7. Verse 37. On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow living waters. I'm trying to mix the analogies of light and water, so bear with me. If we go to God every day, what he says in return is from us. As we go about living our life, rivers of living water will flow from you. I'm thinking about tomorrow's event. I don't know about you, but at times I feel a little out of practice for having new folks come in and coming into contact with them. Actually, we're living in an age where all of Christianity is not seeing big increases. Churches of God, not all of Christianity. I was reading a book recently, though, and the church that I grew up in in southern Illinois, it's very comfortable. Most of those people have been there for years and decades, and I've learned from them and grown up from them. Andy Stanley, son of Charles Stanley, said this. He said, Time in erodes awareness of. Here's what he's talking about. He's saying that the longer that we're in a congregation and we're comfortable and we all know everyone's back story and we know who's doing what this weekend, we sort of lose what it's like to be a guest coming in, or someone brand new coming in. Time in erodes awareness of. What is our conduct like when someone new comes in? This is good for us to think about as tomorrow's event comes, and for the future, I think. Are we warm and welcoming? As we let our light shine to new visitors and new people, you know, they're coming out of a world that's hard, and they don't have the answers. And some life choices may not have always been the best, but they need care and they need healing, and they need a place to go for that. God's church can be that church. We have an amazing opportunity as we come to the end of the age to be examples, confident in our faith and God's ability to bring forth His plan. Let your good deeds show so that they may glorify God. Some of you have been burning for a long time, like that little light bulb. I don't see anyone here who's 115, so not that long. But you've been at it. Keep at it. Keep going. Keep burning. Keep looking at God and His example of His Son to continue on this journey. And know your role. It's a big one. You are a light. Let's shine so that we are seen by those in the world. A city on a mountaintop.

Let's not cover it up, but let's let the good and righteous life that we live show before men. Let's give glory to God, the source of the light, the source of our good deeds and our actions in the bar we're trying to reach. Let's give glory to God. Let's go to Daniel as we conclude here. Daniel 12. He mentions close to the time of the end here on Daniel 12.

Starting in verse 1.

At that time Michael shall stand up, that great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people, and there shall be a time of trouble. We can't let that time fear us to not being a light, as we talked about. Such as never was since was a nation. Even to that time, and at that time, your people shall be delivered. Everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to everlasting contempt. Verse 3. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars, forever and ever. As Jesus sat on the mountaintop, he knew that he was sharing a way of life that would make those who put it into practice light. And he said to them, you are the light of the world.