Being the LIGHT

Last week, we completed the final chapter of a vision series we have been working on for our church in McKeesport. The series was called, "Be the LIGHT" based on Matthew 5:14 when Jesus said, "You are the light of the world, a town on a hill cannot be hidden..." The word LIGHT is an acronym which represents the light of: Love, Invitation, Giving, Hope & Teaching as God's directive for His people. The motivation behind this series is to help God's people strive toward living out kingdom principles which should in-turn help draw people from darkness into the light of Christ (John 8:12).

So how is this "vision" supposed to work from a practical point of view? A brief walk-through of the series helps to frame the context. But first I'd like to make something very clear:

Humanity is helplessly drawn to darkness (John 3:19); that is, it is the inherent nature of man to hide from God because of his sinful (corrupted) nature. This darkness (or moral evil) of man has no remedy from within his own depraved will (Gen 8:21). In other words, there is no way man can save himself from the consequences of his own self-destructive sinful nature (Rom 3:10). Therefore, if there is any hope for humanity, it must come by way of God's necessary intervention.

John 1:1-5 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He (Jesus) was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome (understood) it.

Jesus is the LIGHT for mankind; a way to see beyond the darkness and have hope in spite of man's helpless bent to sin (darkness). God has progressively revealed truth to mankind through the Holy Scriptures (i.e. the Bible). But His perfect revelation came in the form of Himself as a man, the Messiah (The Anointed One). By his life, his teachings, and his demonstration of perfect love, Jesus (God's only begotten son) revealed the LIGHT of God to mankind. Without Christ, we are lost in the darkness with no way out.

Mankind, left to himself outside of God's revelation, is filled with hatred, rejection, selfishness, hopelessness and ignorance. God's LIGHT, however, reveals to us His Love, Invitation, Giving, Hope, and Teaching; a profound and otherworldly nature which stands in perfect contrast to our helplessly depraved state! Jesus not only came to reveal to us this LIGHT, but offered the assurance of full payment for our sins, so we might be redeemed from the darkness. In addition to this, He sent to us the promised Holy Spirit; the third member of the Triune Godhead, to guide us into all truth of Christ's teachings (John 16:12-15). The Holy Spirit grants to depraved man, the regenerative power of life, purchased by the blood spent by Christ. This power revitalizes man to live a holy life, free from the darkness!

As an army bread for the purpose of Salvation, we are committed to shine the LIGHT of God's salvation into the hearts of sinful man. By the carrying out of this mission, we will see the LIGHT of God rescue people from the darkness which seeks to destroy them. This is the vision for the McKeesport Corps; a calling to be the LIGHT to a city on a hill:

Love: is the proper standard for all human relationships. It is built upon the very center of God's character (1 John 4:8). When we live a life of love (in Christ), we have a firm foundation to build upon. God's people must love as Christ loved us all, even while we were yet sinners (Rom 5:8).
Invitation: is the mission of the gospel given to all of God's children (Matt 28:19). It is God's will to draw people to Him, in order that they might have life in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. We mustn't hesitate to invite people to the cross; no matter who they are or what they've done.
Giving: to give is better than to receive (Acts 20:35). Life is meant to be lived out in service to God and to our fellow man. We must support one another as well as Christ's mission to the world (the Church)
Hope: life on earth is not without its share of trouble. However, Jesus, as the author and finisher of our faith, has overcome the world (Heb 12:2; John 16:33). We must hold onto hope no matter what obstacles we may face. All things are possible with God (Mark 19:26).
Teaching: the word of God is His illumination of truth for life (Psalm 119:11). We must be guided by the Scriptures if we are to learn and lead others to Him (2 Tim 3:16). How will they know if someone does not tell them (Rom 10:14)?

It is my prayer and hope that the people of the McKeesport Corps will be united by this vision to Love, Invite, Give, Hope and Teach others the principles of God's Kingdom. The LIGHT of God is here in McKeesport and it is beckoning those lost in darkness to draw near so they might be set free from darkness and see what God has made available to them in the LIGHT. Please pray for us as we shine the LIGHT of Christ into the heart of this city!