photo: pixabay CC0 public domain graphic: Martha G. Brady
The power of light is that no matter how small it is, it removes the darkness wherever it exists! In a dark room, a small candle removes darkness. No, not as much as a floodlight, but enough that you can tell if another person is there or you can see to read a message or tell if you are in danger.
It isn’t accidental that candles, Christmas tree lights and the light associated with the angels and their joyful message is a part of our celebration during the Christmas and Advent season.
Here are some of the Biblical passages that speak to this.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and
without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life,
and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.The true light, which gives light to everyone,
was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him,
yet the world did not know him.
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God,And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5,9-12,14
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying,“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world,
holding fast to the word of life,
so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16
I’ve reviewed promises of the coming Light to the world as well as showed us who we are in Christ…people who shine as lights in the world!
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!Luke 2:13
Of course, later, Paul reminds us in Philippians, that we are to be those who live in a crooked world as shining lights. We are to live as children of the Father of Light!
But the final promise that is hopeful is this one. We are living in a dark world. It has always been that way, but often we have been able to live in denial about it. We have seen the darkness from a distance…and often tried to maintain a distance from the worst of our local darkness. We can’t do it anymore.
Our calling, as children of the Light, is to shine the light into the dark places…and to be the light in dark places. We aren’t called to hide our light in buildings where all the people of light can sit together in one place and pat each other on the back!
But what is ahead?
GOD has called each of us to do something as part of our kingdom work while we are here on earth. When our time is up…or Christ returns, we will join Him as part of His people in the new heavens and new earth that are being prepared for us. That new kingdom where His people will be glorified and will experience the fullness of their salvation. It will be glorious…far beyond anything we can imagine!
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light will the nations walk,
and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.
They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false,
but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 21:22-27
It is hard to imagine what it will be like. No darkness of any kind. No evil. No need to lock doors or gates. No fear or reason to fear. Can you even imagine? I only get glimmers!
This is the hope of Christmas. Jesus came to earth to live among us, to dwell with us and all our mess. Easter reminds us of the extent to which He was willing to go to redeem us…to sacrifice Himself for our sin and fight the full battle for sin. His resurrection showed that He won! He won the victory over death.
But our experience of that victory will happen when we arrive in heaven. It happens during the times when we face temptation and are victorious over it now. But the day is coming when the full experience of that victory will come. It will be beyond any of our wildest dreams! There will be no bad days in heaven…and it won’t be dull!
May GOD grant us a new experience of His Light this year!
Blessings friends.
I love the title Children of Light. Thank-you for an inspiring read.
glad you enjoyed it gabriele:)