ONE CANDLE

Sermon Summary (2/5/17), “One Candle”  Matthew 5:13-16

Last week in prayer time we described the world as “crazy.”  It’s no less this week.  War between Ukraine and Russia; Iran testing ballistic missiles; arguments with our best allies; character assassinations and name calling in the halls of congress; civil war raging in Syria with refugees as the overwhelming problem in the world today, 60 million people without homes, 6 million from Syria alone.  The problems of the world are overwhelming.  What are we to do?

In this sermon series, we are looking at what Jesus said and do so that we can seek what we are to say and do.  Last week we looked to the mind of Christ.  Knowing the mind of Christ we can ask and answer “What would Jesus do if he were me.”  We could determine what to do in the midst of chaos.  What is it we are to do in the midst of darkness, in the midst of evil, in the midst of chaos.

In my search this week, I rediscovered “The Christophers,” formed in 1945 in one of the darkest periods of our national life.  Its premise was that every person has the positive ability to shape the future.  Its Scriptural basis is Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, overcome evil with good.”  And its theme, motto, slogan is “It is better to light one candle than curse the darkness.”

And today, Jesus is saying to us “You are the salt of the earth.”  Salt does not exist for itself.  It exists to provide zest, preservation, to others.  What if we were to wake up each day saying, “My life is not my own.  It is for others.  I exist my others.” Would that change how we live?”

Then Jesus says, “You are the light of the word...let your light so shine before others that they can see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven.”  This word “good” is a special one in Greek meaning “beautiful” and “winsome” and “wholesome.”  “That they can see your beautiful works…” What if we were to say every day, what beautiful thing is there I can do that will give God glory? What if?

When the world is overwhelming, what beautiful thing, what one candle can I light instead of cursing the darkness?  In Syria, one of the darkest and most evil places I can imagine, a group called the “White Helmets” has emerged to run toward the explosions and rescue people from the refuse.  In three years 3000 White Helmet volunteers have saved the lives of 70,000 people by asking what beautiful thing can I do today, what one candle can I light today? 

When things are overwhelming, when things seem too complex, when things seem darkest, “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”  So may it be with all of us.  Amen.