This is the time of year when the daylight hours are fewer and the night darkness longer, at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere. So we put on our house lights sooner in the afternoon and leave them on later in the morning so we can see to do what we need to do.
In my house, the day after Thanksgiving signals the time to start pulling out the Christmas decorations. My favorite is the lights. Randy prefers the multicolored mini-lights over than the white lights so that is what we use to decorate with. He even strung them on our patio, which makes it festive and cheerful all year round.
This year he surprised me by designing a large five-point start on our front porch, with swags of lights running across the front of the porch. All who drive by can see our declaration that we believe in the Star of Bethlehem and the Christ whose birth we profess to celebrate.
When I get up in the early morning darkness now, I like to plug in the lights on our tiny tree and on the garland draped on the eight-foot tall, wide entryway from the living room into the dining room. I enjoy sitting in their soft glow, cup of coffee in hand.
Lights, whether white lights or multi-colored mini-lights, can bring us joy at this season. Lights bring us crucial assistance all year round, lighting the darkness.
There is another light crucial to our lives, the reality of which struck me as I recently began reading the book of John. Since then, I’ve been contemplating the Light that Scripture often refers to. In the gospel of John, some of John’s first words are:
In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through him; and without
There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. He (Christ) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own [that which belonged to Him—His world, His creation, His possession], and those who were His own [people—the Jewish nation] did not receive and welcome Him. But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— who
This is the Light that transcends all other lights for it reaches well beyond the physical realm alone. This Light reaches all the way to eternity.
Jesus Christ, who is God, the Creator of everything, who has life in himself, has come into our world to give that life, the Light, to everyone who will receive it. The more I think about these words, the more amazed and moved I become!
This is the Light that will bring to us true and lasting joy; the right to become children of God! This Light brings the joy and peace of the presence of God and the assurance of eternal life, the life Jesus Christ bestows on us when we embrace by faith the Light of Christ.
Do you have that Light and life by faith in Jesus Christ?
What are we then to do with that Light?
Let’s keep contemplating the Light and see what God teaches us.
May this Christmas you have a blessed celebration of the entrance of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, into our darkness!
Photo by Dan Kiefer on Unsplash