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February 18, 2007
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3: 12-4:1
Title: “Lights On!”

I am not much of a morning person. I like to wake up slowly and gradually. I remember growing up this was always one of the battles my family fought each morning. One parent would come into my room and say it’s time to get up. I acknowledge this comment and then roll over and pull the covers over my head. Then about 10 minutes later, the other parent would come in, this time a little more forcefully, and say, Heather, it is time to get up! You are going to be late for school. Once again, I would pretend to get up. “I’m up. I’m up.” And then, snuggle back down in the covers, trying to get that last few minutes of sleep before I had to get up.

And then all of a sudden, Bam! Lights came on in my room. Light was flooding my room, startling me out of bed. Light was shining in my eyes, burning my eyes. And then the moment comes. I’m up! The light finally got me awake and out of bed. The light finally energized me for the day. The light made me throw back the covers and take that first step in getting ready for the day ahead.

Lights on! Time to Get up! Time to Get moving! Lights on!

Paul is describing a similar feeling to be awaken by the light as he writes this letter. Things are not going so well for Paul in this community at Corinth. A few other teachers have come in and tried to explain that Paul doesn’t know what he is talking about and that the people in Corinth should only listen to them and the Law given to the Israelites by God.

So Paul turns the tables on these teachers and uses their arguments against them while confirming his call as an apostle. Paul says, Yea, God did give you a Law that is worthy of God’s glory and splendor. Sure it once was a shining light to the people of Israel but now that light is dim. That light is dim because of your disobedience. Each and every time you broke that covenant with God, that light went out a little. Each and every time you refused to see the face of God in your brothers and sisters, that light went out a little. Each and every time, you turned away from God, that light dimmed.

And now, that light is completely out.

God gave you the light in the form of the Law. God gave you the way to live your life as the Light of God but you didn’t listen.

You decided to follow your own rules. You decided that you didn’t need God. You abused the law. You used the law to say what you wanted it to say and you forgot the teachings that God gave you through Moses.

That light is out! You have snuggled down into your covers of comfort and security and blocked out the light.

Well, guess what! Christ came into the world and turn on the light! Christ flooded our lives with light that energizes, that calls, that prepares us for the days ahead as people of God.

Christ has removed our dimmer switches and now is calling us to share our light with others and to let our light shine!

Paul takes this argument a step farther, going through the people’s objections to what he is saying, even though no one has expressed any objections quite yet. Sort of like he is having a one-sided argument. Paul is trying to make his case to a community that he cares about and that he sees pulling away from the mission of Christ.

Well, you say that you remember the story of how God gave the Law otherwise known as the Ten Commandments to Moses. You know exactly what happens in this story. You say that Moses had to wear a veil because the splendor of God was too much for the people to look upon and his shining face frightened the people. So Moses protected the people. Moses wore the veil over his face because he didn’t want the people to be too afraid of the Law and what it had to give for the people.

Paul just laughs at this argument. “Ha! Yea, Moses wore a veil alright but was not for those reasons that you just said. You made Moses wear that veil. You made Moses cover his face. You couldn’t handle the splendor of God. You wanted to build up a barrier between you and God. You wanted God to come to you on your terms. You wanted God to be a safe God who wouldn’t expect too many things from you. You wanted to create a “tame” God who only said acceptable things, who doesn’t rock your world or your foundations.

Well guess what folks. It doesn’t work that way. God doesn’t work that way. Our God is a passionate God that fiercely protects God’s children. Our God is a passionate God that fiercely loves God’s children. Our God is a passionate God that fiercely embraces God’s children.

There is no barrier, There is no veil, There is no wall that we can build that will separate us from our God. There are no safe terms. We are not calling the shots. When we accepted God into our lives, we opened ourselves up to a love that surpasses our understanding. When we accepted God into our lives, we opened ourselves up to a grace that is never ending. No if ands or buts!

Guess what people? The lights are on! It is time to get moving! It is time to get up! It is time to let our light shine! It is time to take that light of Christ out into the world to all those who are in the darkness, to all those who are lost, to all those who are hurting.

No more covers over our heads. No more barriers. No more veils of protection.

The lights are on! Christ has come into the world and pulled down our barriers. Christ has come into the world and pulled the covers from over our head. Christ has come into the world and pulled off our protective covers.

And now we are called to be awaken to that light. And now we are called to be ready to share that light. And now we are called to shine that light for all the world.

The lights are on!

This week in our church is Week of Compassion. I would like to share a story with you by the Week of Compassion staff. Buga or “Boo” as her friends call her, is a 10 year old girl living in a remote mountaintop village in northern Laos. Her family are farmers and very little cash income. Through the support of Week of Compassion, Boo’s village now has its first school. When Boo says that she wants to be a doctor, there are smiles and sounds of encouragement. Her village does not have a doctor or medical clinic and the mortality rate is very high.
For Boo and for her village, the new school is making her dreams of being a doctor, and in turn, of making her village a more healthful place a promising one.

The lights are on! Time to get up! Time to get moving!

May we always shine our lights in a world filled with darkness. Amen.

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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