I love Christmas time. The holiday spirit, the music, the trees and ornaments. But I think I love the lights most of all. I am a Hallmark movie, sappy type of person. I cry at movies, I cry at parades, I cry when I see all the lights. They are not just decoration for me, they are a symbol of Who this season is all about, Jesus. Every time I turn my tree lights on and my other decorations in the house, it just gives me such joy. Those lights seem to brighten even the darkest corner.
We read in Genesis 1 that in the beginning the earth was without form, void, in total darkness. There was no light, no substance, no life. The Strong's Concordance says that it was without form and void, or empty, a wasteland filled with confusion. It says that darkness was upon the face of the deep, or that it was black as night and obscure. God then spoke and said let there be light and there was light.
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and it is so dark that you literally cannot see your hand in front of your face. You can see nothing in that dark of night. There is no form to anything and you are ignorant of what is around you. Anyone who has banged their shin into a piece of furniture in the middle of the night can attest to that. Oh for but a sliver of light to give you a bearing as to where you are. Even just a brief flash so you can orient yourself. That is what God did when He spoke light into the world. Suddenly there was a brilliant light and God began to form everything that exists. He spoke the light first so that it could help to sustain life, to bring luminescence and warmth to the earth. That light would help crops to grow and would give us a respite from the night.
I remember my life before I became a Christian. I lived a life of confusion and pain and hurt. There were many dark times in my life; yes, there were brief moments of light, but mostly I lived a life of futility. I walked through life without purpose, letting each day take me where it would, having no plan, no direction. It was as if I were walking in the dark, arms outstretched hoping to avoid those collisions that where sure to come. No light, no hope, no real joy. And then one day, there was that Light. That brilliant, blinding, sight giving Light! Light given by a Father who desired for His child to walk in awareness of who she was. Life giving light that would give meaning to this barren, destitute soul. And oh when my eyes were open, when sight was restored, what joy! What wonderment to behold!
That Light that came was Jesus, born of a virgin, God in human form. Even His arrival was heralded by a bright light, the star that shone over Bethlehem, guiding the wise men to find him. Directing them to the One who would be the rescue, the salvation of all mankind. The One who would bring light to a world darkened by sin. The One who would give us clarity, who would dispel confusion, bring order to chaos and hope to the hopeless.
There are many scriptures that tell us of His light. John the baptist speaks in John 1:9 of Jesus this way, "The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world" (Berean Study Bible). And in John 1:4 we read, "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind" (NIV). And also in 2 Corinthians 4:6, "For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ" (NLT). Jesus Himself spoke in John 12:46, "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (NASB)
The verse that is the hallmark of my husband's and my ministry comes right after Luke 1:78, "Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us" (NASB). I love this verse, telling the story of a loving Father entering into the dark room of His child and as they fumble in the darkness, opens the blinds to the sunrise, shining light into every dark corner. Our mandate verse is Luke 1:79, "to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace", (ESV). I thank God every day that He shone light into my life, not just to bring me out of the depths of darkness and despair, but so that I would devote my life to bringing that Light to others. I pray as you enjoy this Christmas season that you see beyond the presents, the carols and decorations and see the Light.
We read in Genesis 1 that in the beginning the earth was without form, void, in total darkness. There was no light, no substance, no life. The Strong's Concordance says that it was without form and void, or empty, a wasteland filled with confusion. It says that darkness was upon the face of the deep, or that it was black as night and obscure. God then spoke and said let there be light and there was light.
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and it is so dark that you literally cannot see your hand in front of your face. You can see nothing in that dark of night. There is no form to anything and you are ignorant of what is around you. Anyone who has banged their shin into a piece of furniture in the middle of the night can attest to that. Oh for but a sliver of light to give you a bearing as to where you are. Even just a brief flash so you can orient yourself. That is what God did when He spoke light into the world. Suddenly there was a brilliant light and God began to form everything that exists. He spoke the light first so that it could help to sustain life, to bring luminescence and warmth to the earth. That light would help crops to grow and would give us a respite from the night.
I remember my life before I became a Christian. I lived a life of confusion and pain and hurt. There were many dark times in my life; yes, there were brief moments of light, but mostly I lived a life of futility. I walked through life without purpose, letting each day take me where it would, having no plan, no direction. It was as if I were walking in the dark, arms outstretched hoping to avoid those collisions that where sure to come. No light, no hope, no real joy. And then one day, there was that Light. That brilliant, blinding, sight giving Light! Light given by a Father who desired for His child to walk in awareness of who she was. Life giving light that would give meaning to this barren, destitute soul. And oh when my eyes were open, when sight was restored, what joy! What wonderment to behold!
That Light that came was Jesus, born of a virgin, God in human form. Even His arrival was heralded by a bright light, the star that shone over Bethlehem, guiding the wise men to find him. Directing them to the One who would be the rescue, the salvation of all mankind. The One who would bring light to a world darkened by sin. The One who would give us clarity, who would dispel confusion, bring order to chaos and hope to the hopeless.
There are many scriptures that tell us of His light. John the baptist speaks in John 1:9 of Jesus this way, "The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world" (Berean Study Bible). And in John 1:4 we read, "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind" (NIV). And also in 2 Corinthians 4:6, "For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ" (NLT). Jesus Himself spoke in John 12:46, "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (NASB)
The verse that is the hallmark of my husband's and my ministry comes right after Luke 1:78, "Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us" (NASB). I love this verse, telling the story of a loving Father entering into the dark room of His child and as they fumble in the darkness, opens the blinds to the sunrise, shining light into every dark corner. Our mandate verse is Luke 1:79, "to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace", (ESV). I thank God every day that He shone light into my life, not just to bring me out of the depths of darkness and despair, but so that I would devote my life to bringing that Light to others. I pray as you enjoy this Christmas season that you see beyond the presents, the carols and decorations and see the Light.
