GENEROSITY

Philippians 2:15-16; John 8:12

Introduction

You warmly welcome today's message as we get to know Christ and make Christ better known. This is the very focus of today's message; "Reflecting the Light as a YAF Member." (YAF: Persons between the ages of 30 and 40 in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana)

At the age of 36, she's not engaged in any meaningful relationship after several heartbreaks. The insurgencies in the banking sector recently left her unemployed. Beautiful she is. Married men have become her nightmare as they never cease knocking at her door with juicy offers for amorous relationships. Crowning her deep state of trouble is the lack of support from her home or any relative. Can Rebecca, a YAF member reflect the light of Christ? Becky comes out with all smiles and is so cheerful but goes to bed in tears every day. She feels neglected, frustrated, weak, and so on but is highly expected to reflect the Light. She has been advised by close relatives to find a way to get pregnant or else she'll remain childless.

This generation of ours is blessed with more education, abilities, opportunities, and technology than any generation that has preceded us. However, it seems that our insight has also been used to invent more darkness than ever before. God said, "... there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt... and there was thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. One person could not see another, and for three days they did not move from where they were." Exodus 10:21-23 (HCSB). This darkness is in our society today even though we have giant lights around us.

Our society today is a typology of this plague that fell on Egypt, thick darkness. Our national leaders (political, traditional, religious, corporate, etc.) seem to have lost a sense of direction and purpose. It's like a lamp fading its brightness with the eyes adjusting to the dim light in the darkness. We are losing our vision of both our blessings and our dangers. As citizens, we can choose to argue, fight, protest, or pray. It is said that “Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” Reflecting the light is the sure practical means to light up the society.

Light is always the answer to the darkness. Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, the light we shine is to be a reflection of our Lord’s light and for His honour. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 (HCSB)

As we brace ourselves for these dark days, what are the blessings and the benefits of reflecting the light?

1. Reflecting the Light Exhibits our Faith

"Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who faultless..." Philippians 2:14,15 (HCSB)

We are not asked to create or manipulate light but to reflect the Light. "We are told to let our light shine and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does." D.L Moody. Light needs no introduction but simply needs to shine.

One beautiful thing about light is that, no matter what it touches, light cannot be defiled. The darkness in our society today may be devastating enough but we are not supposed to grumble and argue in anything that we do but remain reflecting the light.

Light is always a symbol of truth and representative of God. For that reason, light is never deceptive nor can light ever be defeated by darkness. However, the light will lose its effectiveness if the intensity is reduced. You ought to reflect the Light "... so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless." A great failure in our generation has been a dimming of the light to blend with this dark world. But no matter how great the effort of darkness, the light will never secure its victory over it by negotiating away its brightness to look more like the dark. Light will always stand out in the dark. The Christian faith must always stand out no matter what this perverted generation does. Jesus noted, "a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." Therefore, reflecting the light will always exhibit our faith in this crooked society.

2. Reflecting the Light Diminishes our Fears.

"... children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world." Philippians 2:15 (HCSB)

We wake up every day to meet shocking news of evil, criminal and heinous ideologies parading in our society. The arrogance in the spirit of militancy against young Christians is wild. But their agenda is to intimidate, frustrate and dominate. See the trending fashion, music, movies, language, politics of insult, corruption, robbery, court judgments, etc. What must the Christian do? especially the YAF member. 

Someone needs to turn the light on. Like illuminating a room, we suddenly see the buds and rodents scatter into darkness, and so must our reflection of the Light scatter all these heinous activities in society. Plato said, "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." 

In creation, darkness was with the void. The Sodomites went to Lot in the night - darkness. King Saul consulted the witch by night - darkness. Judas betrayed Jesus at night - darkness. In the same way, the criminal acts, robbery attacks, rapists, murderers, etc. all work in darkness. Darkness is actually the field play for the coward. When we reflect on the light, our fears in life diminish.

Darkness is never comfortable with the presence of light because it does not possess the power to overthrow light. Darkness can only prevail where there is a noticeable absence of light. Although we see in part without much clarity as Paul tells us, nothing is more effective to hold on with hope than reflecting the light of Christ to the world.

3. Reflecting the Light Enhances our Focus

"Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2:16 (HCSB)

Society applause people who are perverted and crooked. It is difficult now to see the right thing through the lens of society. The saying that 'the voice of the masses is the voice of God' no longer holds. We make heroes out of those who engage in things of the flesh "... sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar." Galatians 5:19-21 (HCSB) The young one staggers until they see and follow the Light (Jesus Christ) John 8:12. 

It's just like finding yourself on a dark lonely path and you see a ray of light at a distance, that becomes your ray of hope.

The Psalmist said, "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." Psalms 119:105 (HCSB) The light is our focus but we enhance it when we begin to reflect this light to this dark world as Children of God. John Calvin puts it, “The Lord does not shine upon us, except when we take His Word as our light.” Precious one, as we watch the society stumble about with great difficulty like a drunkard trying to walk in a straight line, let's rest assured that God’s Word will forever be our focus "Then I [we] can boast in the day of Christ that I [we] didn’t run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2:16 (HCSB)

Conclusion

It is obvious that people between the ages of 15 to 40 go through a lot of difficulties reflecting the rays of light Christ gives us. However, a single lit candle covers over 10miles of dark space. Beloved in Christ, YAF members, it is not the size of your light that matters, all you ought to do is reflect and keep reflecting the Light to the world. Amen!

Shalom aleichem...