Word of Salvation – Vol.23 No.49 – September 1977
New Light On Old Problems
Sermon by Rev. Adrian Leenman, Th.Grad. on Psalm 36:9
Scripture Reading John 6:25-39.
Psalter Hymnal: 170; 120; 317; 180; 488
(This Sermon has been prepared for Youth Camps up to approx. 15 years of age. Questions as set out may be used to foster discussion. The following Visual Aid could be prepared by some Campers and be of help when reading this Sermon.
1) A map of the globe – 3ft. across, carrying in a criss-cross fashion, words depicting the consequences of sin, like: death, disease, drugs, violence, etc. etc.
2) The picture of a torch or spotlight placed well above the map, flooding the map with light.)
Counsellors, Leaders, Boys and Girls,
Do you know much about operating theatres in hospitals? Do you know that the ceiling of such a theatre is fitted out with lights? There are powerful, adjustable and moveable lights apart from the standard lighting. Of course these lights are there to AVOID the problem that the surgeon cannot see what he is doing, because of lack of light……!
The abundance of light reduces the risk; strong lights shining in the right place at the right time are indeed a positive help….!.
There is still something else we should mention about such a theatre: No surgeon will ever guarantee a successful operation, or a definite solution to a particular sickness or disease…!
What we mean to say is this: SURGERY CAN FAIL… SURGERY CAN PROVE TO BE OF NO AVAIL…. NEVER MIND HOW GOOD THE LIGHTS ARE……!
Surgery is not always the fountain of renewed health, or the beginning of greater strength.
All the information we have gathered so far, stands in stark contrast to what we just read in Psalm 36:9 ‘For with God is the fountain of life.’ That is what the Bible says.
But, young friends, the sad and disturbing fact is that so many people throughout the world either deny or ignore, or push aside these important words…..! This seems to be happening more and more, and this is not coming from unbelievers, or the people in the pew, oh, no, in certain theological circles the idea lives that God is a ‘struggling God’ Who is trying to maintain Himself.
The God Who is ‘baffled’ by the problems of starvation, overpopulation, nuclear power and the like…….!
Other theologians spread the idea not so many years ago that ‘God is dead’….!
Then there are the many people who are no longer sure what the Christian Faith is all about and the large numbers of people who have lost their bearings on God and who are either confused, indifferent, or desperate
Whenever the subject of God is raised, they conveniently stick some label on God which says: ‘God is a struggling God’ or: ‘God is dead’.
This is much like children who quarrel, and as soon as one of them feels that he is losing the argument, smartly switches over and calls out to his mate: ‘You are a pig anyway!’
This is indeed sticking a label on someone, while in reality it is a sign of weakness or confusion…..!
There are those who make the statement: ‘I believe in God,’ but who live lives which are altogether detached from the norms and standards of the Christian Faith; people who happily move along in any crowd…..!
The God they claim to believe in, is by-passed and ignored and pushed aside. Meanwhile the world goes on, being heavily labelled with all you read on the globe before you.
And is it not so, boys and girls, that these words are almost always associated with darkness??
There is nothing appealing
or comforting,
nothing bright…
nothing promising,
nothing joyful IN ANY ONE OF THEM….!
And yet, IT IS THE TRUTHFUL PATTERN OF LIFE, you may even experience one or some of these…..!
Even if you do not experience any of these, THEY ARE ALL POSSIBILITIES…..!
Indeed, all these subjects are associated with darkness; and the idea of darkness points….
to stumbling…
to seeking…
to wandering…
to making mistakes…
to being unsure, being unhappy, being in doubt,
having no vision
having no clarity….!
And looked at from the angle of the Christian Faith, they are ALL AND ALWAYS RESULTS OF SIN……!
Before Adam fell into sin, nothing of this existed, and in heaven all of this is absent…….!!
As a matter of fact, all this has been changed ― to an extent BY THE COMING OF LIGHT…!
We shall repeat the ideas which are associated with darkness and each one changes WITH THE PRESENCE OF LIGHT……!!
stumbling
seeking
wandering
making mistakes
being unsure
unhappy
in doubt, without vision, without clarity
THE COMING OF LIGHT WILL CHANGE ALL THIS…..!!!
But where is this light to come from????
Is it to come from our modern Research Centres?
From the latest findings of scientists?
From progressing technology?
From the Universities?
NO. It is to come FROM GOD WHO IS LIGHT.
He places all the events of the world AND YOUR LIFE IN A GLORIOUS SETTING……!
IT IS LIGHT FROM OUTSIDE THE WORLD…..
IT IS LIGHT ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT MAN HAS INVENTED
OR PRODUCED OR COME UP WITH…..!
IT IS LIGHT WHICH HAS A HEAVENLY ORIGIN
AND IT SHINES IN ABUNDANCE,
FREELY,
WORLD-WIDE AND WITHOUT LIMITS….!!
IT IS LIGHT WHICH MAKES US SEE THE DEPTH AND THE TRAGEDY OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM…. here on the map……!
If only these subjects were approached in the light God provides, then SOME OF THESE WOULD BE REMOVED…..!
And those which cannot be removed, would be seen differently, and borne with greater patience and better insight.
In wartime powerful searchlights move across the night sky, looking for enemy aircraft, and as soon as such an aircraft has been spotted, ack-ack batteries open up with the aim of DESTROYING BY MEANS OF THE LIGHT…..!
God’s Light of Salvation operates the other way round…!
God gave His Son to bring Salvation and Restoration and a relationship for His people ON THE CONDITION OF FAITH…..
…..however, that Son was destroyed too,
not by a searchlight from the earth,
but because HE WAS THE LIGHT,
THE LIGHT OF SALVATION
and because HE CLAIMED TO BE THE LIGHT…..
this Lord Jesus WAS DESTROYED…..!
THAT LIGHT ― the Lord Jesus, came and humbled Himself deeply;
THAT LIGHT ― the Lord Jesus, carried out His work amidst unbelief and opposition
THAT LIGHT ― the Lord Jesus, was extinguished – put out – He died…..
THAT LIGHT ― the Lord Jesus, rose again on Easter Morning…..!!
THAT LIGHT ― the Lord Jesus, shall blaze out
in still brighter light and greater fullness
on the Day of His Return….!!
THAT LORD JESUS invites you TODAY to live for Him
to love Him,
to follow Him.
If you do that, then all these subjects appearing on the globe ARE ILLUMINATED BY THE LIGHT OF SALVATION…..!
No, they will not be removed,
but SEEN IN THE LIGHT THAT SHINES ON THEM…..
then we can truly say: ‘In Thy light do we see Light….!!’
However, if one takes on the attitude of indifference or unbelief,
then we must REMOVE THE LIGHT
(swivel light in a different direction)
with the result that you must PROVIDE YOUR OWN….
and are faced with the awful consequences of sin,
which is at the root of all the words on this map…..
and for which man has no solution…..!!
Do therefore in a positive way, turn to the Lord of Life and Salvation and do not simply say: ‘I believe in God’, but begin or CONTINUE to LIVE FOR HIM…..!
And you will keep on living for Him ALSO WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER HERE ON EARTH…..!
Do you remember what we said about the operation theatre lights?
They are of great help, BUT SURGERY CAN FAIL……!
The Light of the work of Salvation never fails, IT IS GOD’S WORK…!
BUT YOU MUST ASK God the Spirit to give you the grace to turn to Him and Faith and so BE ILLUMINATED…..!
Then your life may be lived amidst much and permanent light on all possible subjects.
Then your life may be lived while steadfastly trusting that God knows best.
Then your life WILL BE LIVED TO THE HONOUR OF GOD….!. HE IS THE LIGHT…! HE NEVER FAILS… !!!
AMEN
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION.
- Can you think of some more words which do not appear on the map?
- Is there a greater need in underprivileged countries than in Western Countries? Discuss.
- ‘One can ignore God, but not avoid Him’. Comment on this saying.
- Put John 6:27 in your own words.
- Can God be ‘baffled’? Possibly? Never? See Luke 1:37.
- What is wrong with saying: ‘I believe in God’ and go your own way?
- Make up a sentence using the words: ‘Christian comfort,’ ‘Light of Salvation’ and ‘the world’s problems’.