I am filled with gratitude today for our dear friend, Pastor Craig Sumey, who has so generously shared his time and wisdom with our congregation during my absence while I take some time off for Continuing Education at Columbia Theological Seminary and Princeton.
Pastor Craig has been a faithful servant of the Lord for many years, and I am so thankful for his partnership in ministry. It’s a true blessing to have him join us remotely (March 23rd will be in person), and I encourage all of you to really lean into this message, as I know it will resonate deeply with each of you. I’m excited for the lessons he is sharing with us, as they will help us examine our hearts and walk in the light of Christ.
Pastor Craig’s message draws from the words of Jesus in John 8:12, where He says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV).
This scripture is a beautiful reminder that Jesus came to bring light into the darkest places of our hearts and lives. And what a timely reminder it is for us—especially when we consider the parts of ourselves that we often keep hidden in the darkness, perhaps even from God.
Pastor Craig used the image of a freezer to help us understand this. When we store things in the freezer, we’re trying to preserve them, to keep them exactly the way they are. We don’t want them to change. But the problem is that we do the same thing with our hearts—we lock things away, frozen in time, because we don’t want them to change. We keep them in the dark, hoping that by doing so, we can protect ourselves from the need to confront or heal the things inside us.
But the good news is that Jesus, as the light of the world, comes to thaw those frozen parts of us. Just as He spoke to the people during the Feast of the Tabernacles in John 8, where light symbolized God's presence with His people, Jesus is here to shine His light into our lives and bring warmth to the cold, hard places. He comes to reveal what we’ve been keeping hidden, to help us see where we need healing, and to encourage us to let go of the things that are holding us back.
Think about the Pharisees in this passage. They were the ones walking in darkness, opposing the light that Jesus was offering. They didn’t want change. They didn’t want things to be different. They were holding tightly to their traditions, to their laws, to the way they’d always done things. But Jesus came to bring something radically new—a light that was meant to transform, to heal, and to draw us closer to God. And isn’t it easy for us, too, to resist change? Even when God is calling us to step into His light, it’s hard to let go of what feels comfortable or familiar. Sometimes, we hold onto hurts, old beliefs, or unhealed wounds, because it feels safer to keep them frozen in place.
Jesus’ words, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness” remind us that when we choose to follow Him, we’re choosing to step into the light. The darkness no longer has power over us. The things that we’ve been trying to protect, the things that are frozen inside of us, can be brought into the light of Christ for healing, for change, and for transformation. Jesus doesn’t leave us in the dark; He doesn’t let us stay stuck. He is the light that comes to thaw the frozen parts of our hearts.
So, my friends, as Pastor Craig invited us to reflect, what is frozen in your life? What have you kept hidden away, unwilling to let change happen? Is it a hurt, a resentment, a fear, or perhaps an old dream that you’re holding onto tightly? It’s important to ask ourselves, “What are we keeping in the freezer?” What parts of our lives do we need to let God shine His light on so that we can experience true healing and growth?
In the book of Ephesians, Paul reminds us, “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” (Ephesians 5:13, NIV). This is the promise that we have in Christ: when we allow the light of His presence to shine on us, we are not only healed, but we become lights to the world. Our transformation in Christ has a ripple effect that can touch the lives of those around us.
As we go throughout our week, let’s pause and ask ourselves this question: “Lord, what has become frozen in me?” And as we take time to pray, reflect, and worship, let’s be open to God’s gentle invitation to let His light shine on the dark places within us. Let Him thaw those areas that need healing. And let’s trust that, just like with the Pharisees, the things we think we’re protecting may be the very things that keep us from fully experiencing the transformation God has for us.
I want to once again express my heartfelt thanks to Pastor Craig for bringing us this message today. His heart for the Lord and his commitment to the work of God is inspiring, and I’m thankful for his friendship and ministry. Let’s come together to listen closely, learn from his wisdom, and allow God to do the work He wants to do in our hearts.
Commentaires