Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
Ephesians is a book that tells how to display the light of God to those around us. It's our focus today as we wrap up a Christmas series on The Light Has Come. Increasingly, people will need light as the culture deteriorates, and we as believers must be the light that they can see.
From the Moody Church in Chicago, this is Running to Win with Dr. Erwin Lutzer, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Pastor Lutzer, Jesus told us to not hide our lights under a basket, but put them on a lampstand to give light to the whole house. What's your word to listeners as you conclude a Christmas series on The Light Has Come? Well Dave, my first word to listeners is simply this, Merry Christmas. You know, I have to confess that it was only when I became an adult I began to realize that there are many people who dread the Christmas season. I used to think as I was growing up that everyone loved Christmas, even those who didn't understand its deep meaning. It was a time of gifts.
It was a time of parties. For many people, however, it is a time of loneliness, a time of regret, a time of pain. And as a pastor, I soon learned that there were people who thought about Christmas and who wanted to get past it as quickly as possible. From my heart to yours today, would you reach out to someone, someone who may be lonely, someone who doesn't know that Jesus Christ is the light of the world? We as believers should be shining that light, especially today, of course every day of the year, but especially today.
So I want to greet you in the name of Christ, remind you of what Christmas is all about, but at the same time, let us make sure, as the scripture says, not to hide our light, always to shine it. And now let's listen to God's word. People are motivated to do good, first of all to avoid shame, which Paul talks about here, and to receive honor.
And as a result of that, they oftentimes do what they do very publicly because honor is important. Now, notice that the Christian says, Paul says, discern what is pleasing to the Lord. That's the best single statement of Christian ethics that I know. What you are interested in doing is pleasing the Lord. So you please the Lord by the television programs that you watch, by the movies that you watch, by the associations that you have, by the connections that you make. And the back of your mind, if you're walking in the light, always is this question, is the Lord pleased?
You're to walk that way. Now, in addition to how we live, let me say also that we are to expose the darkness. You'll notice here, take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Now, why should we expose darkness? He says it's a shame what they do in secret. Why would we expose them? Is it just to wag our finger and say, look at this, you're doing this, we want to bring some shame into your life?
No. Sometimes the church of Jesus Christ has acted that way and has turned many people away from the church. The purpose of exposing the darkness is always to replace it with light.
That's what Paul says here. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret, but when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. For anything that becomes visible is light. That's why our exposure of the darkness must always be done, not with a view of condemnation, but rather helping people to see that there is a better way. The better way is the light, the light that Jesus Christ brings to us. How do we become lights in the midst of our darkness, dark society? First of all, it is as a result of our own understanding.
It's by what we know. We see darkness, we recognize it because for us the sun, S-O-N, has arisen. The second thing we do is by the way in which we live and also third and related to living is by what we say. And here I guess I will go back to chapter four when the Apostle Paul says in verse 29 of chapter four, let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up as fits the occasion that it may give grace to those who hear. And don't grieve the Holy Spirit by what you say and by what you do.
That's the next verse. So what we need to do is to make sure that in our testimony, we're not laughing at the same degrading jokes that may be told or stories that may be told. We're not participating in all of the criticism and the undercutting that oftentimes exists in darkness.
Unfortunately, it sometimes also exists among people of light, but we don't do that. We watch it and it's not as if we're there to condemn people and drive them away, but to spend time with them individually helping them understand where we are coming from and why we think that Jesus is the most wonderful gift that God could ever give this world. And we do it. We do it with a sense of humility. And we ask people the question, where are you on your spiritual journey? And we help them to understand. Now, there's some people who say, well, you know, I just live the life. I never say anything. Oh, you know what that means? People just say, hey, you know, he's a nice guy or she's a wonderful woman. That's great.
That's half the story. If we're flying on a plane, you know, that's one wing, but it's not going to get you to the airport. You need another wing because unless you explain to them that it's all about Jesus, what do they know?
What explanation do they have for your life or for mine? So, and then Paul goes on to say here, and I know that Tim would like this immensely. Chapter five, verse 17, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of God is.
Don't get drunk with wine for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit. Here's the part I was thinking about when I was thinking about Tim addressing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks. That's the expression that should be on our minds and hearts. We should be thankful people, different people, because after all we have been brought to the light.
What a privilege. What I'd like to do is to help you to understand some transforming truths as a result of this brief exposition today. First of all, remember that we are called, we are called to reflect the light.
We're called to reflect the light. Did you know that this past Christmas was the first time in I don't know how many years that there was a full moon on Christmas day and the next time is going to be 19 years from now. Many of us probably will not see it. We may be looking at life from a very different vantage point in 19 years, but does the moon ever wake up sometime and say to itself, you know, I just don't know how I'm going to shine tonight. I just don't feel like it. You know, I'm dark and there's really no life on me to speak about.
And how am I going to do this now? The moon just needs to be the moon. It needs to reflect the light of the sun. That's what it is. And there are moments when you and I may not feel as if we have the strength and the wisdom to know how to do it, but we cast ourselves on God and we say, Lord Jesus, you are the light. I've received you as the light and I want to do a good job of reflecting you to a world that is very deceived and very confused.
It's all about Jesus. Jesus said these words, ye and ye alone in the sermon on the Mount, you and you alone are the light of the world. And then he says, let your light shine in such a way that people will see your good works and glorify God who is in heaven, that the light that we have may impact the culture and our neighbors and our families. You know, I began this message by talking about Jennings Osborne, who had 3.2 million lights in his yard back in 1993.
And the court in Arkansas said, you have to cut back just a little bit and maybe not have those lights as many days. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we here as a church, so let our lights shine that cars might line up to see what in the world is happening there? Because after all, when they come to this church, they should say, and I pray for this often for Moody Church, they should say, surely God is in this place because our light should shine. And of course, during the week in banks and hospitals and factories and stores, we have the opportunity individually to shine our lights so that people wonder who we are and begin to ask us questions that we can answer and we can point them to the light of the world, which is Jesus Christ.
So we are called my friends. And you know, I marvel at this. Jesus didn't say, now you'll be the light of the world after you get mature in Jesus, after you get it all together. Now he said, you are the light of the world, period. And then he went on to talk about the implications. Maybe a light that is hidden. He talked about that too.
Bad idea. A light that the flame flickers, but you and I are the light. And I hope that you understand therefore your importance within the framework of God and and his purposes in this world and the witness to the city and to our families. Because we are light, hopefully shining brightly. Second and I think this is important to darkness does not just bring obstacles. Darkness does not just bring obstacles. Darkness also represents opportunities.
It represents opportunities. I could go back here in verse 15 of Paul, chapter five. Look carefully then how you walk not as wise, but as unwise, making best use of the time because the days are evil. Is there anyone here today who says, I don't believe that the days are very evil.
You kidding? Almost everything that has been nailed down is being ripped up. And we see this on so many different levels. We have the challenge of technology, which is distracting our young people and distracting adults. We have challenges politically. We have challenges morally.
We've got these huge challenges. The days are evil. Paul didn't say, therefore, try to get out of them and hide in a cage somewhere and hope that you can escape the evil days.
No, right where you are, right where God has planted you, you represent him in an evil time. You be there and you have your light. I know I've talked to people and I sympathize with them. I've never been in a situation like some people are. They said that in the office where I work or the place that I work, it is so dark.
There is so much that is said that is degrading that I just received no affirmation there and it's difficult. But Jesus has you there because he says you are the light of the world. You know, you may not be a very good light, but you're probably the best light these people will ever meet. Hang in, represent Jesus. Make sure that you have not gone back into the darkness and if you go back into the darkness, you confess your sins and you begin walking in the light and praying and seeking God. And you might be surprised about the impact that you have.
And even if you don't always see it. I remember in college, I was attending a university in Canada and I witnessed this guy so many times. I explained the gospel. We became good friends.
He never believed to my knowledge. But long ago I've learned that if you can take a person from negative zero against Christ to even eight or five, let someone else do the harvesting. You never know what seeds you are planting that will eventually bear fruit. And of course, as we notice in the light, you bear fruit in the darkness.
You can't. That's why in Galatians Paul says the works of the flesh are this. And then he lists the works, the fruit of the spirit, letting the nature of Jesus be revealed through us. That fruit is honoring to God and impacts it. And what is it?
Love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. It all has to be grown from within because of the light. Let me say also that you are today either in the light or in the darkness. You are either in the light or the darkness, either the realm of darkness or the realm of light, either one. You know, the apostle Paul and John as well, as you think about this darkness, light struggle in the New Testament, there is no third category.
There is no third category. You're one or the other. And now Paul sort of breaks in and says, I'm in verse 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Arise, O sleeper and rise from the dead and Christ will shine upon you.
He's now, I think, talking to those who are unbelievers. I mean, you know, and he's talking to those in darkness as if they're sleeping. Do you realize the number of people whose lives are really based on dreams?
No reality, just dreams because they're sleepwalking. I don't know why kids do this. I did it when I was maybe eight or nine years old. I actually did sleepwalk once in a while.
They told me I went into the bedroom where my two sisters were sleeping and I looked outside the window and began to make comments and I was, I was totally asleep. What woke me up was tripping against some furniture. And that's sometimes what is needed for people to suddenly wake up and say, Lord, I am yours. Awake you who sleep and Christ will give you his light. He will shine upon you. And it's that moment when we receive Christ as savior by faith and not take for granted the fact that we are Christians or that we are in the light, but we receive him by faith that Christ shines upon us and we become reflectors of his gracious light. Let your light shine said Jesus and don't hide it under a bushel.
Don't be silent because you know something that other people need to hear and they need a humble witness. Many of you perhaps have heard of Pascal. Pascal actually was a great French philosopher. He was a well known mathematician and a Pascal was someone who made the wager. That's what he's really famous for in philosophy. Namely, if you believe in God and you trust Christ and it turns out to be wrong, you haven't lost anything, but think of what will happen if you don't do that and what the consequences could be. So let's make a wager. It's the best bet to trust Jesus as savior.
I think there's some truth to that. It's been debated throughout the centuries, but he was converted at a moment of time and he gives us the date November the 23rd, 1654. You know, I've read some of Pascal and I'm just amazed at his understanding of human nature.
He just has blown me away about who the way in which we as humans operate. But he says this, this is his testimony, fire, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not the God of the philosophers and the scholars, certitude, feeling, joy, peace. He is not to be found. He is to be found rather only in the gospel, total submission to Jesus Christ, eternal joy for a day's training on earth. I'll tell you, you know where they found that testimony?
He had sewed it into his coat and he kept it there. He wore his testimony very close to his heart and it shows how much it meant to him and only when he died did a servant as his coat was taken off find his testimony of his conversion. Do you know the date in which you saw the light and believed? Jesus said, come on to me. I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. And then once you receive the light of life, it is your privilege and mine to shed that light wherever God has put us.
Because at the end, as Pascal said, it's only one day training. That's how short life is for an eternity with God. I'm going to pray now. And when I do, if you've never received Christ as savior, you can pray where you are.
You can even do it as you're listening on the radio or on the internet. You can trust him as you come into the light of the gospel and the good news. It's all about Jesus.
It's not about us. Father, I pray in Jesus name that at this moment there may be people convicted of their sin and they say, I leave the darkness and I received the light. I thank you that Jesus died on the cross, that he came to reconcile us to God so that we could call God father.
And I received Jesus as mine right now. Cause them to believe. Help them father to take the words of scripture awake.
You who are asleep, rise. Christ will give you light. We pray. And now if you have done that, and I'm speaking to the congregation, but if you have done that, would you tell us about it later? Would you come and shake our hand maybe in the visitor center or share it with some other members of the pastoral staff that you have come to saving faith in Christ. We're here to help you on your spiritual journey. Lord Jesus, thank you for what you have done today in the lives of all who have heard. We pray in your name.
Amen. You know, on this Christmas day, I have to say that my heart rejoices, but at the same time it is very heavy. Recently I was speaking to a therapist and she was explaining to me some of the difficulties, the regrets, the sin, the brokenness, the addictions among many families. And even as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ and the light of the world, I can't help but urge all who are listening, shed some light beyond yourself today.
Yes, indeed. We thank God that Jesus is the light that lightens every man that comes into the world, especially those who believe. We are so grateful for the fact that we have come to the light, but have the people around us come to the light?
Do they have any hope? Invest yourself in someone's life today in such a way that they'll be drawn closer to Jesus, understanding so much better what Christmas is all about and reminding themselves that there is hope in the midst of darkness, brokenness, and hurt. As I mentioned at the top of this program, Christmas is not a happy time for everyone. It's a time of regret for many. It is a time of loneliness. And for us to be so selfish, to enjoy the light of Christ and not share that light with someone else is really to our detriment. There's someone in your life who needs you today. Reach beyond yourself, reach beyond all the gifts that you have received, and find someone that you can help to encourage. And remember, at the end of the day, as you hear so frequently here on Running to Win, we always desire to bring people to that Jesus moment, the light of the world. You can write to us at Running to Win, 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60614. Next time, we turn to John chapter 4 for an encounter at a well, a place where we'll learn how to adore God, plan to listen. Thanks for listening. For Pastor Erwin Lutzer, this is Dave McAllister. Running to Win is sponsored by the Moody Church.
