Christmas lights
Photo by Dzenina Lukac: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yellow-string-lights-754262/
Last weekend we put up our Christmas decorations. My son and I went to a local garden centre where we selected this year’s tree.
I spotted the ‘one’ not long after our arrival, so I kept hold of it, whilst we checked a few others out. We got home and I brought it inside before storm Darragh blew in.
We got the decorations out of the loft, which included some lights that are over 30 years old. We got them from Woolworths for our first tree as newlyweds! These are old school lights, if one goes out, then they all stop working.
I plugged them in, and to my amazement they all worked. I then put them in position in our dining room, turned them on again and they stopped working. Doh!
I have plenty of spare bulbs, so I spent the next ten minutes methodically working my way through the line of lights until they started to work again!
They are now all on, and glow with a lovely warm white. I love it when the house is illuminated by the various Christmas lights both inside and outside. There is something charming, inviting and even comforting about it.
The fourth book in the New Testament was written by one of Jesus’ closest friends, John. He starts it like this…
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
In this context the ‘Word’ refers to Jesus. John refers to Jesus as a light in the darkness. Why describe Jesus as a light?
As we head towards Christmas, and celebrate the birth of Jesus, there are a few ways to think about him as being a light:
Firstly, light is needed for life! Our garden plants thrive in the summer the sunshine. Jesus offers a brand-new life. This is good news for all of us who have messed up and need a second chance.
Secondly, light illuminates things. Many times, I use my torch to locate something in a dark place. Jesus highlights areas in our lives, often things we keep in the dark. He does this with love, mercy and compassion and not judgment, wanting us to be free from guilt and shame.
Thirdly, light stands out in the dark. A single lit match can be seen from quite a distance at night. Jesus is a light that stands out in this dark world. He offers hope, joy and peace.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world have experienced the reality of the light of Jesus in their lives.
Let me encourage you this Christmas to discover Jesus, who is the light of the world.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader