In a recent BC cartoon, a man is sitting on the ground asking God for an answer and says “God if you’re up there,
give me a sign.” And a big neon sign comes crashing down beside him saying I’m up here!
We all have days when we feel like we need a sign. Where are you God.
This time of the year seems to bear many “signs” of God’s love and care for us.
It’s my favorite time of the year. The leaves are changing color. The air is crisp; the sun is still warm. The
sights and sounds of the Fall Festival are in full bloom, and I love to breathe it all in . . . . we even gained an hour
turning back the clocks last night.
Daylight hours are getting shorter while evenings are getting longer.
That’s when I like to put lights in my windows, see the white lights in Lloyd’s display windows, on street posts, and in
the homes of friends and family. . . Feels like HOME.
And, I get settled in to the coming of winter and the festivities of thanksgiving and Christmas when we use lights to
celebrate.
I thank God for it because I’m a light person!
God knew we needed light. So, He turned on the light!
A sign from God in the beginning.
God took a dark, formless void and created light, sky, land, and sea. He made vegetation each bearing fruit in its
time. He hung the sun, moon, and stars in the sky - LIGHT. Under them He placed birds of the air and creatures
and fish of the sea.
All these were created to give life to each other and to the last two masterpieces of God’s artistry: Animals
and Humankind.
Often we think we’re not good enough or special. But, the scriptures say that God made us in his image. That
dear friends, is special.
We are different from all other creation because God gave us
*the capacity to love and
*the ability to think, to care for all living things that God has given us! That’s special and a responsible
privilege!
And God said . . . this is good.
God created us all for companionship with HIM.
Reminds me of one little girl who said -
“Fingers [ like] mittens better because
they don’t get lonely in them.”
God was lonely and
created each of us to be His children so we could
all be together with Him in His family. . . . . .
But, somehow we wander off like Adam and Eve. We get out of line. . . .can’t find our way back, . . . OR lose
our way . . . and get too proud to turn around - and Come back Home!
But, God keeps the Light On For Us!
God made us to have companionship with Him.
In the Gospel of John in the 1st chapter it says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
The “Word” in the biblical sense is the creative power of God - the very heart of God. He came from heaven to
earth bringing heaven with Him to show us how to live as if we were already THERE!
He was RADICAL! Went beyond rules. Changed things to make life FULL OF GOD’S BLESSINGS.
I’d been in church all my life but never really met Jesus until I was studying these words in the first chapter of
John. It was so awesome to me that God drew me right in- to the point that I had a personal encounter with Him and
I’ve never been the same!
The Bible came alive, words popped off the page. I was not afraid of God anymore . . . I knew he loved me as
a Daddy and was not some mean or angry God.
These are HUGE changes. That’s what Jesus does. He took the finite and touched it with the infintite . . . .
shattered earthly boundaries stretching them to the divine!.
∙ He took Water and turned it into wine at the Canaan Wedding
∙ Broke the Sabbath to Heal the paralytic
∙ Took 5 loaves and 2 fish - fed 5000
∙ Walked on water to allay the disciples fears of the stormy sea, AND
∙ Replaced the death penalty for adultery with an acquittal freely given as a new beginning point for a new life!
All of these exhibit LIGHT - REVEALING THAT GOD IS HUGE,! Big on Generosity - - - Big on Love - - -
Big on The Blessings of Abundant Life.
A good example of God’s love is like the story of a monk. . . .
He lived in the mountains as a hermit. One night bandits came to his door saying: “We’ve come to take away
everything in your cell.” He said, “take whatever you see my sons.”
They gathered up everything they found and left. BUT, they left behind a bag with silver candlesticks. When
the monk saw them, he picked them up and ran out the door after them shouting - “Take these! You forgot them
and they are the most beautiful of all!”
That’s how it is with God. He wants you to have all of his heavenly blessings . . . Especially Jesus Christ. . . . .
the most beautiful blessing of all!
If you’ve never met Him that way then I suggest you seek Him out as all believers have in the past and continue to
do in the present. You’ll find it is the most important decision you’ll ever make in your life. ASK one of the pastors
here or a good Christian friend HERE today to talk this over and God will help you win the VICTORY!
The powerful love of God came in the form of a man called Jesus who revealed to us WHO God is.
In fact, v. 4 says: He was the true light that enlightens everyone coming into the world.”
The power of God in eternity broke into human history and made history!
God turned the light on!
COME TO THE LIGHT!
Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
At the Feast of Tabernacles 4 lampstands in the Temple Court of the Women shined enough light to fill the
courtyards in all of Jerusalem. God stretched beyond the rules and laws of nature when He sent Jesus to earth
because
the presence of Jesus lit up the whole world.
The lady in the reading for today turned a corner and followed the light. What about you?
It’s your choice! Follow Jesus and have the light of His life in You. . . . .
This is the track I’ve been on for about 30 years. . . .
Through blessings that I’ve realized from God each day as well as God’s help - - carrying me through times of trials,
tribulations, and the loss of loved ones. Sometimes understanding, Sometimes not . . .
The ONE thing I do know is:
God turns the light on and
Continues to Keep the light on for you and for me.
Amen.