Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12 NASB
Have you noticed how cheap the new LED lights are? Because they are so cheap, I really don’t know how many I have bought to throw in my cars, the house and pockets. It seems everyone has caught on because I usually get a handful for Christmas. The problem seems to be that no matter how many I have, I can never find one when I need it. The result is I get caught by the darkness.
The good news of Christmas is that in the midst of a deep darkness there came a light, and the darkness was not able to overcome that light. It was not just a temporary flicker. It was an eternal flame. We need to remember that. There are times, in the events of the world and in the events of our own personal lives, that we feel that the light will be snuffed out. But the Christmas reminds us that whatever happens, the light still shines.
The ancient Hebrews were afraid of the darkness. They were particularly afraid of a place they called the outer darkness. To them creation began when God said: Let there be light.To them, where there was only darkness there was only void and emptiness. What great meaning and hope it must have been for them when they heard Jesus refer to himself as the light of the world. Where there is light, there is hope!
The darkness is real. But because of Christmas, it will never get so dark that you can't see the light. Into the darkness God sent an eternal light. As you walk outside this evening, notice that the darkness does not intrude upon the light. On the contrary, it is the light that intrudes upon the darkness. Light is always stronger than darkness. And the forces of light are stronger than the forces of darkness.
We need to hear these words this Christmas as the millions in our world starve from a lack of nutritional food, or even food itself. Where babies die from a lack of food, it is dark. We need to hear these words as the refugees flee from war-torn countries or lawless regions where gangs rule, rape and kill the innocent. Where homes are lost to violence, it is dark. Even where food and freedom are plentiful it is dark. Racism, bitterness, hate, distrust, addiction, abuse, trafficking…all bring darkness.
The greatest need in our mixed-up and confused world this day is to let people know that there is hope. That life is worth living no matter what. We should not be discouraged to the point of despair. n Jesus Christ we shall cling to the hope that life overcomes death, that love conquers hate, and that truth will prevail over falsehood.
We are the people of light and we must share that light in a dark and a dreary land. Why do you think that God chose to use a star to guide the Wisemen to Bethlehem? I am convinced that it was not by accident. It was an eternal reminder to them and to us that in a sea of darkness, it is the light that keeps us going forward. It is the light of hope and the light of Christ that leads the way and dispels the gloom. It is my prayer that the light of Christmas will shine and enlighten the dark corners of your life and that you, too, will discover the pathway to Bethlehem’s manger. There, the Light of World was born.
Scripture to Claim:
"No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. Isaiah 60:19 NASB
