Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5

The Sermon:
Most of us are familiar with some FAMOUS LAST WORDS of historical figures: phrases like the Civil war General who, while sitting on his horse looking across at the enemy lines, said to his aide, "They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance". OR, Julius Ceasar when he said, "Et Tu Brutae" or Jesus when he said, according to the Gospel of John, "It is finished."

Typically, we pay more attention to "Last words" than we do First Words. However, there are some exceptions. How about Neil Armstrong’s first words as he stepped onto the moon: "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." OR Alexander Graham Bell’s first words spoken over the telephone in 1875, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you." OR Samuel Morse’s first words sent by telegraph. Interestingly, it is from the Bible, Numbers 23:23..."What hath God wrought." (KJ)

Many of the First Words that have made the history books are related to some form of communications…the first e-mail…the first radio broadcast…the first t.v. words…the first tweet, etc. Of course, closer to most of us are the First Words our children said as babies. Research tells us that the 9 most said First Words of babies are: dada, daddy, mama, dad, mommy, mom, cat, no, and dog.

First Words usually announce that something new has begun. The First Words ever uttered were when God said, "Let there be light". God said those words at the beginning of a new project called Creation! Those words began the transformation from chaos to order…represented by God’s illuminating presence. The Light that God spoke into Creation, reveals God’s selfness and character…that is, "God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all." (1st Jn.1:5)

God speaks and the darkness and chaos of earth are put in their place. Paul, in his writings, urges all of us to, "Walk in the Light and live in it, so that we, too, might move out of the chaos of sin and into God’s ordered way of life designed for us and the whole of Creation.

If we walk in the Light, as he himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with the Spirit and with each other. No matter how we mess up in life, God continually invites us to walk in the Light. How do we break the darkness in our lives? By confessing our brokenness, our sins and by obeying our Creator’s commandments and by being Light-giving people in our relationships with others.

In Revelations, God speaks about the "new creation" in which He says that there will be "no more night"…that means we will experience Light all the time…The Light of Christ.

As we begin the journey into a New Year, and as people created in God’s image…we are called to 1st, recognize the Light in our own lives, and 2nd, to be Light-givers to other people. Make no mistake, we are the ones who choose whether or not we are messengers of doom and gloom and negativity OR we are messengers of the Light of Christ. AMEN.