No Darkness at All

Today I am giving the children's message at church...here's what I have prepared.

1 John 1:5

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Today, we are going to talk about what it means that God is light.

What is the biggest and most important light in our world? [the sun]

What do we get from the sun? [Hopefully responses include warmth, growth, light, energy, etc]

OK…all true…Now let’s try a little experiment revealing another property of light. Can I get a volunteer? 

[I then hold a flashlight and shine it on the volunteer’s back – if possible with a white wall behind the child to cast a shadow]

First I turn on the flashlight, tell them it is on and ask them if they can tell it’s on. – I make the point that God is always on…always shining on us, whether we know He is there or not. And in fact, just like the sun, he is stationary and reliable and predictable. But, we are given that light…for us, but we have to turn towards it to see it. 

Otherwise…

Then I point out the shadow (or if there is not one cast, I talk about the concept and describe that sometimes we cast a shadow). I ask the kids, When we turn away from the light and stare away from it, what do we see? A dark spot. A shadow. Darkness created by ourselves. 

Everyone has times in their lives when they all of a sudden realize they are not basking in the light…they are staring into a darkness that they created by turning from God. So, what things can we do to remember to face the light of God? 

I'd like to end with something I think is amazing. Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, still understood this concept of turning to the light...She couldn't even see and yet she penned this advice:

“Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.” 
― Helen Keller

Prayer: 

So, God that is all light. 

God that is THE only light. 

Like our sun, You nurture us. 

You give us the energy that keeps us alive. 

You keep our bodies, minds and spirits facing You and basking in Your beautiful light. 

You keep us out of the shadows and darkness, Lord. 

Help us to know that Your light is always there to show us the way. 

And, like Helen Keller, help us to know that Your light is there even when cannot see it. 

You are always there, shining on us, lighting our way.  

Amen