Throughout this holiday season, the Lord has been teaching me about Light. The significance of Light in relation to the Christmas story and the everyday life of the believer has greatly challenged and encouraged me, and I’d like to share with you a few of the things I have learned and been reminded of.
1. JESUS is the Light.
Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world.” Baby Jesus, Light, came down to earth in the form of that little baby lying in the hay, brought Light to a world that was hopelessly dark. Darkness is simply the absence of light, and Light will always overcome it.
2. The Light brings Hope.
Jesus, came as a baby in a manger, brought Hope to a world that was desperately waiting for it. “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Emmanuel, God with us. “Good news of great joy which will be for all the people” the angel said, “a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,” (Lk 2:10-11). He was everything that Israel had been holding their breath for for 400 years and more. The promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world. His coming brought the hope of salvation for all mankind.
3. The Light exposes and makes visible. (Eph. 5:13) This Light is powerful. Darkness allows for unknowns, for things to remain hidden. Light makes everything known and visible, even that which we sometimes do not want to be known. The enemy wants to convince us that our darkness is comfortable, but Jesus says His followers WILL NOT walk in darkness but will have the Light of LIFE,” (Jn 8:12). That sin that we keep unconfessed and unseen (or so we think), it’s meant to be dragged out into the Light, confessed, and repented from. That ugly lie that rears its head and gets the best of us when we think no one else knows what we’re going through- into the Light. There’s a reason Jesus calls it the “Light of life.” Walking in darkness does not give life. Life is in the Light.
4. We are called to walk in Light. Ephesians 5:8 says, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.” Verses 9-10 tell us that “the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” This is how we are to walk! John 3:21 says, “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
5. We are called to carry the Light into the world. Take one look at the world around us and you will quickly realize that we are drowning in thick, heavy, broken, darkness. But, we have living inside of us the Light that conquers even the deepest darkness. We do not need to fear the darkness. Rather, we turn and run headlong into that darkness carrying this Light with us everywhere we go. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Finally, Matthew 4:16 says, “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a Light has dawned.” I’d encourage you, as we step into a new year, to walk with confidence and hope – the Light has come! Even more than that, I challenge you (and me) to walk with purpose. The world we live in is desperate for this Light. How will you make yourself available to God to shine the Light of Life through you into a world of darkness?
By: Aaliyah Neufeld
