A Light for the Nations

I pass 15 churches on my way to work every morning. 15. One every mile. There are half as many filling stations on the same route – which, I guess, means that my car gets better millage than my prayers.

We’ve been looking at the “fuzzy” sections of the scriptures. The 1000 year blank that most Christians draw from Solomon to Matthew. The dominant story of this period is one of rebellion and exile – and hope (but one birthed as slaves in a foreign land).

Which carries me back to the 15 churches I pass every morning (and twice on Sundays).

When God called his people out of Egypt, he called them out “in the sight of all the nations.” He rescued his people to show the world what he is like. He gave them his law to show the world how humanity was created to live. He led them in a cloud and pillar to announce to the nations that “the LORD, he is God.”

Then the people got to the land of promise and the light that was for the nations turned inward. What was given to the Jews for all people was closeted away, placed in a temple, protected by armies and borders and a king.

One of the reasons the prophets give for the exile of the Jews into Babylon was that they failed to serve their purpose – they failed to live their lives publicly to the world, to be a light to the nations.

Isaiah 60 says it so emphatically (read this outloud and with a strong voice for the impact): “Arise! Shine! For your light has come and the Glory of God rises upon you! Don’t you see that darkness covers the earth? Terrifying darkness covers all peoples? But the LORD rises upon you! His Glory appears over you! Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of the dawn!”

Paul takes up this theme and hinges it upon Jesus: “Do everything,” he says to the Phillipians, “so that you may become the children of God – shining like stars in the universe.” Again he says to the Ephesians: “You were once in darkness, but now you are in the light of Jesus. Walk, live, act like children of light!”

So again I tell you, I pass 15 churches every morning. Which makes me ask a question: Are we being faithful to our mission? Are we shining the light to all the world; living, walking, working acting like the children of light? Or are we placing mirrors around ourselves and shining only inwardly?

Maybe I can put this another way. Is the church looking merely to become better, faster, fitter, greener, cleaner, and more efficient? Are we spending all of our time energy and resources making sure that we’re ok? Have we forgotten what it means to be lights in the darkness?

There are 15 churches on my route – and yet, aside from Sundays, they’re always dark.

Flash back with me 2000 years or so to a man named Simeon. Simeon waited his whole life for the promise of God to come to pass – for God’s anointed, his Messiah, to come into the world. And when in his age he sees the infant Jesus consecrated at the temple, he begins to sing:

Lord, as you have promised, let me rest now in peace.
For my own eyes (right before me and not in some prophecy) have seen your salvation
Which you have prepared to be a light – a light to all the nations
A light for Gentiles, a light for Jews, a light for all peoples.
The Glory of all your people!

Maybe for you, you find yourself still in exile – still hoping, like slaves in a foreign land, for rescue. Waiting for an infant Messiah to carry new light into the darkness – shining through your hearts.

Sing it again: “For we have seen your salvation which you have prepared to be a light – a light to all the nations. A light for old people. A light for young people. A light for gays. A light for the poor. A light for the alcoholics. A light for the divorcees. A light for the pregnant teenagers. A light for the desperate businessman. A light! Shining! Your glory has come!”

~ by sholander on October 15, 2008.