John 1:1-5, 9-13
“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 were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Many churches hold a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Yes, there are beautiful carols to sing and the children’s choir will many times introduce the service with a very special song they have practiced for a while. But the concluding lighting of the candles is most memorable. The lights are turned out except for one solitary candle held by the pastor. The church is completely dark except for that single-lit candle. The pastor then takes his candle to light the first person who is sitting in the first row. One by one, each person’s candle is lit by the person next to them. If you were sitting in the last row, you could see the church gradually become brighter and brighter with each candle being lit.
The message in this simple but beautiful demonstration was intended to encourage the believers that Christ, the promised Messiah has come to bring light into the world. In Him there is no darkness; the darkness does not understand and cannot overcome the light (John 1:1-3). The concluding words are for the church to go out into the world and take the light of Jesus Christ with them. The pastor reads the words from 1 John 5:4, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
Romans 11:36 says, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” All things happen to give all glory, honor, and praise to Jesus Christ, our Lord God and Savior. Against the backdrop of an evil and vile world, the glory of God shines even brighter. For Christians, we do not live in fear. Romans 8:37-39 says, “… in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing happens by chance and God is always in sovereign control. God receives glory, even in the darkness of chaos. It is the work of the devil to thwart, accuse, and try everything he can to hamstring our faith in our desire to live our lives for God’s glory alone. Yet, even so, “this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). Our faith is more precious than pure gold to our God. He has given us saving faith and sustaining faith. We have a whole arsenal of weapons at our disposal, the complete armor of God, so we may overcome the wicked one (Ephesians 6:13-18) as we pray in the Spirit earnestly. In all our lives and in everything we do, may Jesus Christ be praised!
Thank you very much. Your message just helped me with something I’ve been struggling with. Gives me encouragement that though the intention was good
when the time comes l forget and remember after the fact. Too late. But God understands my struggles and shouldn’t beat myself up when it happens. Must go to God, admit my failures, ask
forgiveness and He will strengthen me. 🙏
Thank you for your response, Janet. That is true and that is what we learned in Pastor Jon’s messages about the People God Curses: the legalist, the deceivers, and the hypocrite. We who have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, are confident that He who began a good work in us, will continue that good work until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). When we sin, we must repent. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
As for the chaos that happens in our day-to-day lives, again we have an advocate and a mediator, Jesus Christ our Lord standing before the throne of God on our behalf. First John 2:1 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
If possible, you may want to reread the book of 1 John which is our encouragement and assurance that we are indeed, children of God. That was the book Pastor Jon was preaching through when my wife and I joined Makakilo Baptist Church, back in the day.
Have a blessed day and if the good Lord will, I hope to see you at church tomorrow!