The Light Has Come

I love Christmastime, and one of my favorite parts of this season is seeing Christmas lights. While driving home last night, I saw a wide variety of Christmas lights. There was everything from multicolored to solid, the Grinch to Santa Claus, an inflatable Mickey Mouse to a decorative deer. 

This prompted me to think of what Jesus said in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus coming into the world. He came to bring light, and He can give light because He is “The true light, which gives light to everyone” (John 1:9a). 

Light pierces through and illuminates the darkness. I could see these Christmas lights because it was dark outside. Similarly, Jesus came to shine through the darkness of our world. Where sin dampens, the Light forgives. When fear and anxiety overshadow, the Light offers us His peace (John 14:27, 20:19-21). When doubts darken our faith, the Light challenges us to believe (Matthew 8:26, 14:31). And when it seems like the darkness will prevail, leaving us in an eternal, never-ending night, God’s Word promises us that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcame it” (John 1:5). Jesus overcame all darkness when He, the Light of the world, willingly laid down His life on the cross, defeating sin and death forever. 

Thanks be to God for sending His Son into the world! Through Jesus, we have peace and light on our darkest days. He allows us to understand His Word and graciously shows us how to live. Even though the darkness may seem to prevail, Jesus has overcome it. And when we walk through shadowy seasons, He is walking with us (Matthew 28:20). 

The Light has come into the world. Are you walking in the light (1 John 1:7)?