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Lights Shining in the Darkness
Romans 13:8-14

       Do you know what inky darkness feels like?  My most vivid experience of absolute darkness was the 1/4 mile walk from my house to my grandparents’ home.  I loved going there after my homework was done and supper was over.   But I cannot count how many times I stayed late and ran the entire way home.   I hid this from my grandparents by walking calmly down their long driveway, but as I turned the corner toward home my feet slapped that rural road.   On one side was thick woods and on the other were open fields.   We had no neighbors and no streetlights.   I had a small flashlight that didn’t offer nearly enough light.   When the moon wasn’t out, I had all I could do to sense if I was still someplace in the middle of the road.   When it snowed the vast whiteness was incredibly disorienting.  
      What I strained to see during each run through the dark was a faint yellow light that shone from the side of our home.   Once I could catch sight of that light between the branches of trees, I knew where I was, and I knew how to make it home safely.  To this day, inky blackness still makes me feel the discomfort I felt back then.   Can any of you relate to being in darkness, and feeling afraid?       
        Today’s Scripture, written by the apostle Paul, draws on the images of darkness and light.   He uses these images in a metaphorical way, contrasting Jesus as the Light of the World with the darkness that can be found in and around us in the world.  In this passage Paul felt great urgency, saying the hour has already come (and gone) when Christians in Rome should have woken up and gotten active.   He’s telling them, time is ticking away.   It also feels like his voice is an alarm clock, beeping on and on.  That was Paul’s aim, to rouse groggy Christians, to get them up and active, not giving in to lethargy or indifference.  
       But once alert, what exactly did Paul want the Christians in Rome to do?   His first instruction was clear; he said they needed to get rid of any darkness, or sin, in their lives.  That’s the same message he shared with his apprentice Timothy (2 Timothy 1:9). “God has saved us, and He now calls us to live holy lives.”  God wants us fully available to be used as light bearers.   Since sin interferes with that, he reminded his Christian listeners of the basics, using some of God’s foundational Ten Commandments.  He specifically mentions #5 (Do not commit adultery), # 6 (Do not murder), # 7 (Do not steal) and # 9 and 10 both have to do with not coveting, or wanting what others have and you don’t.  The common denominator in all of these is that self comes before all else and everyone else.   Sin is self-focused, and often selfish.  
      Paul gives us one secret to battling sin and temptation in verses 10 and 11, saying: “You must love your neighbors, just as you love your own selves.   That kind of love will not do anything wrong to harm a neighbor.”   Think of someone right now that you love immensely, then consider how your love for them is expressed on your very best day.   Are you self-centered or other-focused?  Are you selfish – or more like a servant?   Paul is explaining how Jesus calls us to live.   We are to avoid sin or rid ourselves from any sin we are in – with God’s help – and receive in us God’s perfect and selfless love.   We then get to be a vessel – allowing God’s love to pass through us and shine toward others.  
      I want to take a bit of time to unpack for us why the sins Paul mentioned interfere with our opportunities to be God’s light bearers.   Take the first one, adultery.  If lust rises up into our thoughts it can then be fueled by loneliness or other factors, and soon the temptation is to move away from the pain in our marriage – toward what looks pleasing.  If we are telling ourselves lies and justifying things, we are already wading in sin.   The way to counter that is to discipline our minds to remember how much we have loved our spouse.  We have the power within us to cut off fantasy thoughts and focus on the spouse that is with us each day under the same roof.   Where we focus is up to us, what words or actions we might take are under our control.   We can stay or stray- one choice is loving and other-focused, the other is all about self.   One is faithful but hard, the alternative is selfish and sinful.  
     The same basic principle applies for each of the commandments Paul named.   Murder is the sin of taking away another’s life.  That violent action breaks a sacred boundary.  It is a selfish act; it deprives someone of their future.   Love restrains itself; it won’t let us hurt others.  Don’t you find that to be true?   Stealing, robbing someone of their possessions – often done in secret – that too is a sin.   Love does not take what belongs to someone else.   And finally coveting, wanting what your neighbors have and you don’t.  You might drool over their inground pool or wish you had their elevated position at work or the marriage they do.  But love means you can see what your neighbors possess and be genuinely glad for them.  Rather than covet, you celebrate with them.   You are unselfish and un-self-centered.
     Many people have noticed that one of the differences between the Old and the New Testament is this:   There is a shift from the negative “Thou Shalt Nots”, with the Ten Commandments and other Laws – toward Jesus’ instructions to observe those holiness teachings but also have a new nature.   The Law is outside of us, but Jesus offers us a new nature, an inner transformation.   And what fills us and fulfills the Laws is God’s abundant and unconditional love.   And that love has an object.  We are to love others; everyone we see, know or encounter shall be our neighbor.    Love everyone radically and consistently.  
      That sounds wonderful, a swell idea for Christians - then our feet hit the floor and we run into other humans.   I think we can all agree that our obedience to God is imperfect.   And our love falls short.   We have times when we do feel very selfish and self-centered.   We can feel that way when we are alone, but when we go out into the world we do not necessarily routinely run into sweet-tempered lovely saints.   There are also plenty of belligerent jerks out there.   So, really – how can we ever hope to live holy and love-filled lives?
      Well, we can’t do it on our own.   Paul says the answer is to “put on Christ”, to “clothe ourselves with Jesus”.   I know that every day we have our routines.  In the morning (most days) we get up, dressed and oriented, to start our day.   That is one time and place when we can pause and intentionally invite Jesus to be at work in us that day.   Just as we put on a shirt, think about “putting on Christ” as you head into whatever your day will bring.   That might work until, say 10:30 in the morning when some things are going sideways for you.   If, and when, you feel like your ability to love others as Jesus loves them is getting hard.   Or if you are fighting some temptation to sin, don’t deny that or push through on your own willpower.    Pause and pray.   The is the prescription you need to fill; it will help with what ails you.  Pause and pray.   When we do that, we are living in faith; we are believing that what we lack, God will supply.   God does not disappoint us; God empowers us each, and every time we need help.   Do you believe that?     
      Walking in holiness and being radical in love is what Paul says our world needs.   He says we are meant to not only be and bring light; notice how he says we are to be weapons of light.   That phrase implies a battle, and always makes me think of light sabers.   Is there a kid in you that thinks it would be neat to have a light saber and clash your sword with an opponent, just to see how well you could do?  Our modern equivalent is probably laser tag.  
      Paul was wise to use this image of a battle and needing a strong weapon.  He lived through dark times and devastating hardships.  To withdraw - to steer clear of people, places and situations that were hard and harsh, was not nor is it to be ours.   We are called by God to walk forward, equipped by Him to be deployed, just as we deploy men and women today in military service.   With the leading and help of the Holy Spirit there are many places and situations that need relief from perpetual hardships, internal pain, and ongoing despair.  It is inky black out there for too many people these days.      
      Light is needed for people on the margins; they may be poor, hungry, unemployed, or all of the above.   We are not sitting back passively; we give, and we show up.  Together we offer help and hope, so darkness recedes from others’ doorsteps.   But here is a stark statistic from this week’s news: one third of children in America today are still not being given adequate food.  Their stomachs are too empty.
         There are also uncountable numbers of people being abused, or addicted, and many ready to give up hope.   This is Suicide Awareness and Prevention month and several people in our church are actively involved in that. They are being light-bearers.   Then there are those who are isolated and feel forgotten.   These can be caregivers, seniors, or people in rehab centers and hospitals.   They can be spouses of those in the military or young adults.   Small efforts, regular outreach matter.   Investing time in scattering sunbeams makes a difference.   And though few might consider this, a good number of people who live in enviable zip codes, who may have all the toys and trappings that can be bought in showrooms and sent through Amazon Prime – they too can live in darkness.   They can have a bulging bank account and seem to have it all together but the truth beneath the veneer could shock you.   Inky darkness is found in us and around us.      
       But remember this - God sees into every heart.   Jesus knows the true condition of our souls.   He hears our feet slap the pavement and knows we each want to see the yellow light in the distance and let it orient us so we find our way home.   Jesus Christ says that inky darkness will not have the last word.   His plan is in place, but we His light-bearers need to be roused.   Get out of our groggy state.  The time is now to purge sin from within us and be vessels that hold the fullness of the radiance of Christ.  We need to be at full wattage, shining brightly in wide open places and in our homes, at in our workplaces and neighborhood.  
      Jesus, who is the Light of the world and the Light of our Life – is with us.   Those who have sword fights say “en garde”, don’t they?   I think that means “hey, pay attention, here I come”.   I think that fits for us, don’t you?   Let’s be the ones Jesus sends out to shine His light into inky darkness.

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