If I was to ask what our young people need today, many of you would probably answer, ‘They need hope.’ There is a mental health crisis in our world and especially North America unlike any other time. People are seeking but without direction. They are looking for purpose and fulfillment not even knowing who they are and certainly not knowing that they are THE most priceless creation of our Father. They are in despair at both ends of the age spectrum, having no idea that their very existence caused the Creator to say not ‘it is good’ but ‘it is very good.’ I visit in a retirement home and I am shocked at the number of people who plan to use MAID to end their lives not when they are in pain, but when they are not needed or of value anymore. And this is a church built and funded (along with the government) home! Oh, how our world needs hope!
It is into this world of darkness that we light the second advent candle; the candle of HOPE. Did you know that in science there is no such thing as darkness? Darkness in itself does not exist. It is measured by the absence of light. If you light a single candle in the midst of darkness, the light pushes away the darkness literally redefining it. How symbolic of our world void of light and love, seeking and in despair, and into that world comes the true light.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times…Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign; The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel…For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace… The shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the LORD has told us about.’ So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child and all who heard it were amazed…The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will HOPE in him… May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit…Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day…So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal…The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world…I [Jesus] am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
(Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Romans 15:12, 13; Luke 2:15-18; 2 Corinthians 4:16,18; John 1:9; John 8:12)
Because of the light of the world, Jesus, we have HOPE. Because He brings light into darkness and in fact, is the source of light itself, we HOPE. And because of the birth of the baby, His life and His death on the cross, we have the HOPE of eternal life. We have the message the world is seeking. This Christmas season let us invite our friends and families to services and programs and carol sings and anything that pushes back the darkness by bringing in the light.
Our sogn for today is Somewhere in Your Silent Night by Casting Crowns.