A Great Light

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone…. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this. —Isaiah 9:2, 6–7

God’s plan is to bring His light to all the world through the people called “disciples” who answer His calling and seek His Kingdom

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, by what will it be made salty? It is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown outside and trampled under foot by people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15 nor do they light a lamp and place it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house. 16 In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 5:13–16

The arrival of light is not good news for those who love darkness

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” —John 3:16–21

Because people who love darkness hate the light, Jesus’ disciples endure a constant temptation to make God’s message palatable and His standards preferable

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. —2 Timothy 4:1–5

Because of God’s love for His name, His children, and His enemies, He will not tolerate the darkening or distortion of His message

Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, 25 and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you 27 (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), 28 lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. —Leviticus 18:24–28

Thus, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth! —Revelation 3:16

God’s mission is to rescue and redeem His corrupted world through the authentic and unfiltered Gospel of Jesus Christ alone. My prayer for One Missoula Church is that if we or any future generation ever join the darkness and become unfaithful, lukewarm, or cowardly, I am petitioning God to dismantle and dissolve this congregation and give this building and every other tool He has entrusted to us to disciples who will humbly join His mission and boldly declare His message without compromise.

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. —Luke 12:48