The Remnant

November 18, 2012
The Remnant
Youth Service
Drew Ward
1 John 1:5-7 ; 2:3-6

God makes sure there is a "Remnant" of people who walk in His light so that we, and others, may come to know Him, even if it seems like there is no one left who truly loves God and walks in His truth.  These people bring the message of God's hope and the Good News of the Gospel to those who are lost.

"But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage." 
--Ezra 9:8

Has God ever placed a "remnant" in your life?  Has He called you to be a "remnant" in another's life? 

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin....We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."   ---1 John 1:5-7 and 2:3-6

• God is Light
• Light represents: truth, goodness, hope
• Darkness represents: lies, corruption, evil, dispair

In the dark good and evil may not be as discernible as in the light.  Things are hidden in the dark.  It is much better to live in the light, and by the light, so that all the evil and sin in our lives can be forgiven.  The passage above says that then we can have fellowship with one another.  It also says that we must walk as Jesus walked.  This is best described by Jesus himself in Matthew:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.'"   ---Matthew 16:24-25

This is a requirement for following Him.  So what does it look like to "lose" our life for Christ?

• Denying ourselves -- denying selfishness
• Denying our own goals or dreams for those God has for us
• Denying our own wishes or desires for God's best for us
• Denying our bad habits because God has delivered us

This is what we must do to find ultimate fulfillment in Christ; it's how we begin to trust him as sovereign Lord of our lives.  This is faith.

Our faith can cost more than just denying ourselves.  It can cost relationships with family or friends, it can cost our job or profession.  Those living in darkness or in the world believe our faith puts a strain on their relationship with us because there's "too much God" in our lives.  They may not be comfortable and may not want to associate with us. 

Regardless of where we walk---in the light or in the dark---we make sacrifices.  The sacrifices for living in the light we already discussed above.  However, living in the dark will cause one to sacrifice pure joy, fulfillment of life, unconditional love, forgiveness, and a never-ending life in God's presence.  Would you not rather sacrifice selfishness and the desires of this world in order to gain the presence of God?

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"   ---Matthew 16:26

God is calling us to walk in His Light.  Jesus is the Light of the world.  Be the Light, live in the Light.  God will use you (whether you know it or not!) to touch other lives.  Maybe family, friends, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, or even strangers.  You are the "Remnant" for today.