January 6, 2019 "Light-Filled Nations"

January 6 2019 Light-Filled Nations *Isaiah 60.1-6, Matthew 2.1-12  Pastor Jacqueline Hines

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What a precious blessing it is to have light in our lives. We so appreciate the physical light that we have. Wondrous things have been done with Christmas lights. [slide # 1 Christmas lights] Landscapers and architects are always creating new atmospheres with special lighting. You recall our architect Casaccio Yu’s [slide# 2 Casaccio Yu on right] emphasis on lighting when we did the groundbreaking ceremony on Communion Sunday May 3^rd 2015. At sundown the lights are programmed to come on automatically. [slide # 3   drawing of Bethel] We notice lights everywhere from the grocery stores to roadways. Through the generations, God said, “Let there be light.” And light continues to be a blessing in so many ways.

Light in an incubator is warming and healing in ways that help a newborn to develop. [slide # 4  baby in incubator]. Bethel Christian preschool has incubated baby chicks for the last several years. [slide # 5  eggs incubating] Light warms, it heals, helps life to grow; light protects us by revealing hindrances within our surroundings, light illuminates our environment so that we can see the good and choose to avoid any evil options.

Yesterday, I committed to meet a Quaker named Carol who is involved with the Salvation Army and United Methodist Women in providing resources for women who have survived the horror of human trafficking. On January 10^th I will participate in what is being called a Labyrinth of Light and Hope. [slide #  6 masterpieces…] It is a celebration of human trafficking survivors of all races and nations, and creeds. They are being called “Masterpieces of Broken Pieces”, which is what we all are, God’s masterpieces of our many broken pieces. Candles will be lit along a path where women’s stories of survival are written with every step. Anyone is welcome to join me. Light is what we use to celebrate, as well as to warm, develop, heal, and protect.

Light is also fast and energetic beyond what we can imagine or fathom. Light can travel at the speed of 6 trillion miles in a year or 186,000 miles per second. Light can be powerful and even forceful. When the sun is strong, we shield our eyes so we can avoid an encounter with damaging rays.  [slide # 7 night driving] While driving at night, when the LED lights are on a high beam, I often feel physical discomfort, even pain in my eyes until the forceful light has passed. [slide # 8  driver shielding eyes]

Thus far we have been talking about physical light, but the presence of spiritual light has similar qualities. Spiritual light is also energetic, fast, powerful and sometimes forceful. The presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit comes as a light that warms us, heals us, protects us, helps us, nurtures us and can be so strong that we are inclined to shield ourselves, as so many like have done, like Paul, when he encountered the light of God before his dramatic conversion from brute to believer. [slide # 9  Paul blinded by Heaven’s light]

A world without light is a world without hope. God knows that. So God created light and provides it for us. In John 8.12, Jesus tells us that he is the light of the world and whoever follows him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. In Matthew 5.14 he tells us that we are the light of the world and that we should let our lights shine that others can see our heavenly father’s good deeds and glorify God which means to give God the praise and honor.

So it is our task for the year as it has always been, to let Jesus shine through us that every person of every nation will find in us a light that provides whatever warmth, protection, development, healing and help that God intends.

Then we will see as the Prophet Isaiah foretells in verse 3: [slide # 10 Epiphany…Nations shall come…]

 3 Nations shall come to your light,

   and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

We have seen it before, and we will see it again. People of all nations come to you, to me, to Bethel. Even royalty – those of means and power and status, come to you, to me, to Bethel, because our light shines! Let it be so forever. [slide # 11 Arise and Shine for Jesus] Amen. [slide # 12 Arise…your light has come]