KEEP YOUR BATTERIES CHARGED
A sermon by the Rev. Dr. James G. Kirk
Harundale Presbyterian Church
Text: “Let light shine out of darkness.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)
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Now that Homeland Security has organized itself, we’re beginning to hear just what we should do to protect ourselves against a future terrorist attack. For example, just two weeks ago it was impossible to buy duck tape anywhere. We had been told that every house should have duck tape and plastic to put over the windows and create a “safe room.” Later that recommendation was retracted when we were told that such an atmosphere could become claustrophobic or not allow enough air for the occupants to breathe. So, there was less of a rush to buy duck tape and plastic to cover the windows.
Lately, Homeland Security has issued three more suggestions: have a three days supply of food and water in the house; arrange with your family a central meeting place where the family can gather in case of an emergency; and keep a list of all crucial phone numbers to keep in touch as to your whereabouts. In our house we’ve taken two more safeguards, arranged to have a portable radio handy to hear emergency announcements even when there’s no electricity, and made sure all of the flashlights have working batteries. There’s nothing worse than to turn on a flashlight in an emergency and find the batteries are dead.
Which brings us to Paul’s message this morning. He hearkens back to God’s announcement in the creation, “Let light shine out of darkness,” and also Jesus’ admonition we find in Matthew, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Last week, when we tested the flashlights we had in the house, we found that we had to replace the batteries in one of them. So, off to the store and now we have an ample supply of “D” batteries to keep the light shining on every floor of the house. Sometimes we need to do the same thing for our faith or sometimes for the faith of other people. We need to see to it that we keep the batteries of our faith charged and help one another keep the batteries of their faith charged as well.
A while ago one of our people came to worship after a very difficult time in her life. She needed her batteries charged. She wanted her light to shine once again and thought that worship would do her some good. It hadn’t been an easy decision for her to make. She’d had some surgery that was particularly painful. At times she’d felt abandoned and that no one really understood what she was going through. So, just taking the step to get out and surround herself with the warmth of her church community, she thought that would be what her batteries needed to regain her faith. Well, during the passing of the peace, someone made an off-handed comment to her. Had she been strong she would have passed it off and thought nothing more about it. But she wasn’t strong; she was very vulnerable, and she took that off-handed comment personally and hasn’t been back to worship since. Now her battery has gone out and what was once a very bright light in the congregation’s life is no longer.
Paul reminds us that “we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.” In other words, there are times when someone needs us to charge their battery of faith and we miss what could have been a wonderful opportunity to let someone’s light shine once again.
Or, again, we let our own batteries weaken and when the time comes for our light to shine, just like one of our flashlights at home, all we get is a brownish glow. Lent is a good time in the church year to charge the batteries of your faith. Lent was always a time when people disciplined themselves in ways they wouldn’t bother to do the rest of the year. It was a time to prepare themselves anew to welcome the risen Christ into their lives. So, they spent the time of Lent in some sort of spiritual discipline, daily prayer, reading and meditation, or giving themselves in some way to the mission of the church. It wasn’t about just giving up something for Lent. You still hear of people who’ll forgo chocolate, or sweets, or meat, or some other luxury they give themselves. But that often goes the way of New Year resolutions. It works well for a week or two, but then the novelty wears off and people go back to their routine and miss the opportunity to discipline themselves in some way. Lent is a time to interrupt that routine and let the light of Christ shine in your lives in some new and creative ways.
Yesterday, during the officer retreat, the leader had us take a look at Psalm 112:4 where the poet tells us how “even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous person.” We were to go around the table and share with one another what that psalm meant in our lives. One of the Elders told how the light of Christ has shone in his life and essentially turned it around, both in interpersonal relations and in the work place. His co-workers have noticed a difference in how he deals with them and how he approaches his job. He helps them to develop their skills, complements them when they do well and works with them when more is needed. Needless to say morale is high and production is better. In other words, he was telling us how the light of the Lord has worked through him and, in so doing, let the light of other shine as well.
Mark tells us how the Spirit of the
Lord was upon Jesus and he was transfigured in front of the disciples. What Mark’s really trying to say is that
Jesus was lit up. It was a time to “let
light shine out of darkness,” and Jesus was now ready to begin his journey to
Thanks be to God,
Amen