You can’t really appreciate the light until you fully comprehend the darkness.
There are warning labels on just about everything. Jeff had a bag full of items with warning labels on them. Everyone is warning us about something, but no one is saying a word about the most dangerous thing out there. CNN won’t talk about it. Schools won’t educate about it. Politicians will not use it as a campaign platform. It is the greatest crisis that has ever been or ever will be. The danger is living and dying in spiritual darkness.
We can’t appreciate the great light until we truly understand the darkness. Our world is in bad shape and in need of light. And that’s what Christmas is all about. When God looked down on the darkness and said, “let there be light” by sending his son, Jesus to come and save the world.
We watched a video this morning at North Side about the state of the world. It was to a Chris Rice song, “Peace on Earth.” Here are the lyrics:
Peace on earth
Peace on earth
Did the angels waste their words?
Everywhere, raise this prayer
Let there be peace on earth
Let there be peace on earthPeace with God
Peace with God
Offered through one holy child
Even when this life is hard
There can be peace with God
There can be peace with GodPeace on earth
Peace on earth
Did the angels waste their words
Everywhere, raise this prayer
Let there be peace on earth
Let there be peace on earthPeace within
Peace within
Where true peace on earth begins
Every heart finding him
Has perfect peace within
Finds perfect peace withinPeace on earth
Peace on earth
Did the angels waste their words?
Everywhere, raise this prayer
Let there be peace on earth
Let there be peace on earth
Here is the video if you want to see where the darkness has taken our world:
Jeff preached from Ephesians 2, and Paul writes in that passage that our sins have led us to death. It is darkness. The most dangerous thing about living in the darkness is not that they found themselves under the power of the evil one, the most dangerous thing is that they stand before a God in judgment without a relationship with Jesus. Before we can enjoy the cheerfulness of the Christmas season, we must realize that the solution to so many’s dilemma this season is Jesus. He came down to a dark world. And he still comes to bring light to a dark world.
But how have we brought the light into the darkness of the lives around us? What are we going to do about the darkness of Greenwood? We need to bring the light of Jesus. Make this month different than any other Christmas season you have celebrated. Help other people see the light of the world!
Today at North Side, we worshipped to the following songs:
- Let There Be Light – Point of Grace
- Go Tell It On the Mountain – Agnew Version
- Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
You can hear these songs and plenty more of good Christmas music on the Pulse, North Side’s radio. You can listen to it here. Have it playing at home and at work – spread the word!
You don’t want to miss the Global Impact Celebration tonight. We will have it at North Side’s Family Life Center from 5-7. We’ll have food from around the world. You’ll hear stories from the field. But even more importantly, we are going to have numerous options for you to get involved in to impact the world. If you have been looking for an opportunity to get involved in missions, you don’t want to miss tonight. Come tonight from 5-7 and get ready for the world to change!
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.