Where the Light Leads Us
The Christmas seasons of my childhood always included a few evenings where my mom would get us in her car, and we would simply drive around to see the Christmas lights. In most towns there are neighborhoods or certain streets that have residents who are known for their Christmas decorations.
I don’t remember the name of the street in West Tampa, but every year traffic would back up due to the number of cars who patiently waited to drive down those few blocks to see certain houses that went all in with Christmas lights.
In Fayetteville, it was a house on Sandy Creek Road that drew the huge crowds. And now, in West Point, Georgia, there is a house that has lit inflatable dinosaurs as a part of their Christmas display. The display of Christmas lights tends to draw a crowd.
In the fourth Gospel, John talks a lot about light, and he comes back to this same topic in 1 John. Here are some of what the apostle John tells us concerning light:
-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.
- He (John the Baptist) came as a witness, to bear witness about the light.
-The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
Later in the fourth gospel, we hear from Jesus directly:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
We learn from scripture that light is a central part of our Christmas celebration. Not the colorful displays on, in, and around our houses, but rather the good news that through the babe of Bethlehem we discover the light of God. And in him and through him all darkness is overcome.
The apostle John was very familiar with the teachings Jesus delivered during his Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus said:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
The apostle helps us understand that when we are in relationship (fellowship) with God, we no longer live in darkness. Yes, there may be darkness in the world, but it cannot stop us from revealing Jesus to the world. But as John says, we must walk in the light. And when we demonstrate that we are walking in the light, we know that we are cleansed of our sins. And when we have fellowship with God and love one another, then the world sees that Jesus is in fact the light of the world.
We cannot walk in the light without establishing fellowship with God through Christ. And we cannot shine our lights outwardly unless we first love each other in the family of God and then share Christ’s love throughout all his creation.
Christmas lights on every corner may stir nostalgia as we consider Christmases of the past. And Christmas lights may brighten our mood as we enjoy their color. But the most important light of Christmas comes from God to us in Christ. And as we share his love with others, our impact will be far greater than the short lifespan of the Christmas lights that soon will be turned off and stored away until next year.
Father, thank you for Jesus, the light of the world! Today we ask that your Holy Spirit remind us to never hide our light but to shine brightly as we love others the way you have loved us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
John 1:4-9, 8:12-20, 42-43, 58, 9:5,33; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 John 1:5-7 ESV
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