I have always loved Christmas lights. Just as the weather starts to get colder, and the days are shorter they appear. Usually around Thanksgiving, lights start to pop up all over town – along the main streets, in storefronts, and businesses – and in our homes. Some love multi-colored lights, while others fancy the classic white. Regardless, Christmas lights up our towns and homes in the darkness of December.
The lights help point out one of the great themes of the true Christmas season: Jesus Christ, the light of the world, has come to pierce the darkness of our world with the light and hope of the Gospel.
In his Gospel, the beloved disciple John said, “In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:9)
In the book of Genesis, we see that at the beginning of creation, the earth was formless and void, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit hovered over the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). God spoke and the light was formed. God spoke and darkness was dispelled! God spoke and creation was illuminated so we could now see. Light had penetrated the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it.
The New Testament acknowledges that there is darkness in the world. The darkness is spiritual, and darkness is used as a word picture to describe how humanity is blind to truth and to God, lost with no clue how to return home, and lured into the darkness of sin. Humanity is stuck in the dark with no hope or sense of direction.
Our world is a place full of darkness…
- A darkness that clouds our vision.
- A darkness that creates spiritual blindness.
- A darkness that causes spiritual bondage to sin.
- A darkness that keeps us wandering and lost, separated from God!
Then Jesus Christ came into the world. John said, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4). .. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9).
John has described the season and time for a new work of creation. This time, it was the hearts of humanity that were formless and void, with darkness over the surface of our lives. When God sent Jesus into the world, it was as if He said, “Let there be light!” The apostle Paul said, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Through Christ, God is breaking into the darkness of our hearts and sin with his life giving grace and power. Jesus brings life into that which is dead, fills that which is formless and void, and illuminates the eyes of our heart to the hope of Jesus Christ.
The light of Christ brings:
- Vision to move forward.
- Eyes opened to our need.
- Revelation to God’s glory.
- Illumination to Christ’s sufficiency.
- Clarity to our pathway.
Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone! Without Him, we are blind. Without him, we are lost. Without him, we are stumbling in darkness.
2020 has had more than enough darkness. We have all felt at some point we are stumbling in the darkness, groping for hope and help. We have needed light.
We have a LIGHT! He is the light.
And He is still with us.
COVID has tried to quench the light. Politics have tried to extinguish the light. Satan continually tries to put out our light.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Christ is a reminder that no matter how dim this world may become, the light of Christ will always break forth into the darkness. Nothing will stop the light of Christ. Let there be light!
Prayer:
Father of lights, thank you that every good and perfect gift comes from above. Thank you for the light of Jesus breaking into the darkness of my world. Thank you that though I once was lost, and now I am found. I was blind but now I see. Open the eyes of my heart to see you more clearly that I may follow your more nearly. Let there be light in my life. Let there be light in my family and friends. Let the light of Jesus Christ shine. Amen.
David Yarborough 