The Lights of Christmas
The lights – twinkling, white, colored, spot lights, light shows, candles, luminaries….think about all the lights we see, and enjoy, throughout the Christmas season. They are a huge part of our decorating. Why is that? Is it just tradition? Here in South America, families save their money to purchase fireworks and sparklers and the midnight sky is lit for miles around with the brilliant colors and dramatic explosion of both lights and sound!
Don and I have been talking about the history and the origin of lights at this time of year. We read on line that they were used in the 17th century. We learned about the first Christmas trees with electric lights rather than candles. But scripture tells us a little more of what we want to know.
Luke 2:8-9 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and there were terrified. Look at this passage, it tells us it was night. Nights are usually dark. You know, look outside on a night when there are no stars or moon shining in the sky and it is dark! But, the angel appeared and what else does it tell us? The glory of the Lord shone! Another translation tells us a heavenly host suddenly filled the sky. Now, that’s light! We see how the artists over centuries have portrayed this scene. The angel is usually dressed in white, which lights up the sky for the shepherds.
Let’s move on to the other scene we are so familiar with – the wisemen; well, let’s be accurate and find in scripture what is said about the Magi Visit! Matthew 2 1:2 says, After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” There it is! The star! They saw it, followed it and actually had to look for the Savior. Right there is a message for each one of us. Do we look for the Savior? I think they were wise men! Seriously, the star was their sign and they responded to it.
So, let’s think about life today! What if we didn’t have light/s for a day (well, a night!) like those times when we lose electricity due to a storm. We usually scamper to find a flashlight and hope the batteries are still good. We might light a few candles. It’s kind of fun to start with, but as the time ticks on, and maybe hours pass, we find being in the dark is not fun. We get frustrated. We may trip over something or bang into things as we move about. Making a meal by candle light and without the convenience of electricity would be a challenge for some of us. Reading or playing a board game (since there would be no TV or video games) is not that easy by a flickering light. Seriously, we would not be content for very long, would we. Darkness brings upon some of us a natural fear, we are very conscious of the dangers lurking, we are not comfortable and become irritable. We seem to want (or need) to be busy about stuff. Sitting in the dark and contemplating life is not what we find satisfying I tend to say that we want light in our lives.
Back to scripture and we read in 1 John 1:5 God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. With that said, do we embrace the light of God, total transparency, nothing obscure? His light reveals truth. Is that good news to you and me or is it a little too revealing? Remember, God is light – and that is the light that was sent to us as a baby in the manger so many, many years ago.
We enjoy celebrating His birth. Do we enjoy the light He brings?
There are two more verses in scripture I want to leave with you. I just ask that you think on these things. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. And, the second one is in 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
It seems to me that the lights that we enjoy during the Christmas season originated with the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t it be something if we carried that light with us all year long? Maybe we can’t leave the Christmas tree and other decorations up, but when the last strand of lights is taken down, Christmas should not be over. We need to continue to celebrate Christ’s birth and Jesus, the light of the world!
