HATH GOD SAID PART III? Kay Keith Peebles 05/3/2019 19.14
The light from one small candle made a profound difference! I taught older teens Sunday school for several years during the late 1980’s. My first class was at a church in Rockwall Texas. The lower level of our Sunday school building was underground and none of the rooms had windows. One Sunday I was teaching on the power of God’s light to dispel darkness. We put the chairs in a circle and I gave everyone a candle. I then turned off the light so the room was in complete darkness. It was profound. We could feel the darkness. It was like being in a deep cavern with no access to light.
I then struck a match and lit one small candle. It was amazing the light that small candle produced in complete darkness. We could see forms of the people and shadows on the walls of the room. Facial features were clearly evident on those closest to the light. We then shared the light by igniting one candle at a time until the entire room was filled with the glow from everyone in the class. My point was to show the power the Gospel of Jesus (Light of the World) could make if we all were willing to share it with others. At the conclusion of my teaching we ended the meeting by singing “This Little Light of Mine”. We were declaring to the Lord that we would let our light shine. It was a simple message but the visual of the power of the Light of Jesus would remain all our lives.
The Bible says of the Gospel, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].” Psalm 119:105-106. The Passion Translation states it, “Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your word makes my pathway clear. To live my life by your righteous rules has been my holy and lifelong commitment.”
The Word of God is our light that guides the believer through the challenges and temptations which come from being in a world in darkness. As Disciples of Christ, we are called to shine the light of Christ, not conform to the darkness around us. Proverbs 4:18 explains, “But the lovers of God walk on the highway of light, and their way shines brighter and brighter until they bring forth the perfect day. But the wicked walk in thick darkness, like those who travel in fog, and yet don’t have a clue why they keep stumbling.”
When the Lord created the heavens and the earth His command was, “Let there be light!” Genesis 1:3. At that very moment a blast of light ignited the darkness! The moon, stars, planets and galaxies came into being and have not stopped forming since His command. When God does something amazing, marvelous and creative, He uses “light” to emphasize it! He used the light of a burning bush to cause Moses to pull away and seek Him in order to become the intercessor for Israel’s freedom. He protected the Israelites in the wilderness by a pillar of light at night.
When Jesus was born, the Lord God put a huge star in the sky above the stable. Wise men came from the east to see Him because they knew by the light in the sky something great had happened. They believed the prophesied Messiah King had come; the Savior of the world, King of the Jews had been born. They not only came to see Him, they brought Him gifts of great value. When Jesus took Peter, James and John upon the mountain He was transfigured. His face was illuminated by heavenly glory like the intensity of the sun and His clothing became white as light.
At the time of Jesus’ death there was darkness at midday proclaiming the debt of sin had been paid and received. On the third day, an angel from heaven appeared at Jesus’ tomb and rolled away the stone. He looked like bright lightening. His clothes were white as snow. When Jesus returns in all His glory He will be shining like the sun as John’s Revelation describes His appearance. “His face reflected His majesty and the Shekinah glory was like the sun shining.” See Revelation 1:13-16.
Our God is so great and complex we will never fully understand His ways until we see Him face to face. There are dark places He visits where only one or two can see His light shining. In some cases, no one sees the light except Him. He is holy, clothed in Light and there is no darkness in Him. He is full of light and we are made in His image! Each and every one of us was created in light!
Psalm 139:13-18 explains with great detail the process of conception hidden deeply in the womb. “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me.” The Passion Translation.
The technology of science now provides the marvelous opportunity to see inside the womb. This brings to light what all the generations before us have never seen or known. Life springing forth by a burst of light at the moment of conception has been recorded on film.
This is the picture of the moment a sperm breaks through the egg inside the womb. At the moment of conception God illuminates the new life as the spirit and soul converge with human matter. The Light of the World is igniting His light in each soul conceived, preparing it to come into the world! The womb is a holy place where the “lights” of God are conceived, nurtured and grown into maturity. “Life came into being because of him, for his life is light for all humanity. And this living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom–the Light that darkness could not diminish!” John 1:4-5.
God created man and woman because of His great love for fellowship with us. Psalm 139 details our being formed by His hand and declares every life is precious to Him. He has created a marvelous plan for each of our lives and He has determined all the days of our lives recording them in His Book of Life.
Because God has given us free will, He does not choose whether a child is conceived outside of the marriage covenant or by rape; we do by our own choices or those of others. Never-the-less, each child is conceived by His Light and made in His image. Whether loved or abandoned, planned or not, each child is precious in His sight. Each life has a divine purpose and a plan of redemption to fulfill in their generation. No one is expendable; all are of great value to Him because they were created through the ancient command: “Be fruitful and multiply”. See Genesis 1:28.
You are not an accident or a mistake. You are precious to God, loved and dearly prized and needed to accomplish your purpose in this generation. Although others may abandon us, the Lord will never abandon His children. “…I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13:5 and Joshua 1:5.
John 1:7-9. “For he (John the Baptist) came to be a witness, to point the way to the Light of Life, and to help everyone believe. John was not that Light but he came to show who is…” Emphasis mine.
Jesus calls us light! “Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16.
What is our responsibility as children of light? “Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters. And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for he surrendered his life as a sacrifice for us. His great love for us was pleasing to God, like an aroma of adoration—a sweet healing fragrance. And have nothing to do with sexual immorality, lust, or greed—for you are his holy ones and let no one be able to accuse you of them in any form…For it has been made clear to you already that the kingdom of God cannot be accessed by anyone who is guilty of sexual sin, or who is impure or greedy—for greed is the essence of idolatry…Don’t be fooled by those who speak their empty words and deceptive teachings telling you otherwise. This is what brings God’s anger upon the rebellious! Don’t listen to them or live like them at all. Once your life was full of sin’s darkness, but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you because of your union with him. Your mission is to live as children flooded with his revelation-light! And the supernatural fruits of his light will be seen in you—goodness, righteousness, and truth.” Ephesians 5:1-13.
Conception is a supernatural event which quickens us to the revelation of God. Every child is innocent and holy, precious and designed with a specific purpose the world needs. We began in the light of His presence. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior His light came to dwell within us. Lord, help us to carry your light to the world. Your heart weeps for the lost, the hurting and the broken. May our hearts yearn to fulfill our destiny to fearlessly carry your Light into the darkness. May the Love of your sacrifice for us move us with compassion to reach a broken and dying people.
Hath God Said? Yes He has!
