“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is
not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a
hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under
a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there
on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your
lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this
generous Father in heaven.” Jesus, Matthew
5:14
– 16
Last night my young adult ministry, Revolution (www.revo813.com) put together a service
called Light. It was to be a change in our regular service schedule, to do
something unique in preparation for Christmas. We planned to play the elements
of light and dark against each other. Just as before God created the world,
“Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness”
(Genesis 1:2) and before Christ came the world lived in darkness, Jesus: “I am
the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I
provide plenty of light to live in.”(John 8:12). With this in mind we put
planned songs that praised the light of God, such as “Great Light of the World”
by Bebo Norman and “Stars” by David Crowder. One of the most moving elements
was the dramatic reading of scripture and narrative. There were two scrims set
up on the stage, and lit from behind. The silhouettes of a man and a woman
shone through. As God’s Word was read and narrative was explained, these
characters acted out the words. Very powerful! In the middle of the service,
while the room was black, a single table lit from the bottom revealing Christ’s
body and blood and we took communion as one to Coldplay’s song “Fix You”. The
service concluded with a charge to our generation. Do not sit and soak – Be
LIGHT. Live LIGHT. Share LIGHT. We were given small candles and a flame passed
through the building. By the end of Delirious’ “Did You Feel the Mountains
Tremble?” all candles and hearts were ablaze in God’s presence. It was a night
for reflection and motivation, confirmation and challenge. It was my Revolution
before I move, and I can’t imagine a better one to end on.
“Suddenly,
God, you floodlight
my life; I’m blazing with glory, God’s glory!” – Psalm
18:28
