Jesus is the Light of Life. That is what Christmas is all about! The Son of God came into this world, as both God and Man, to dispel the darkness of the evil one and provide a way for all humanity to discover true freedom.
I love the phrase in the old Christmas carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, that says, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Him tonight." Isn't that so true? The full range of emotions that all humanity has experienced or ever will experience were laid on Jesus Christ. At Christmas, we celebrate God's gift of His only precious Son who temporarily left His throne in heaven so He could feel as we feel, suffer way beyond any sorrow we experience on this earth . . . in order to share His forever Kingdom with the ones He created and loves.
As I read through the December readings in my daily Bible (which is in chronological order, by the way, and so easy to understand!), I am amazed at how often the word "light" is used. I knew my topic this week would be on light, so I've been thinking about it. You know how it is when you have a certain thing in your mind, you see it everywhere? Like when I had my first baby, I was astounded to see that babies were nearly everywhere! I hadn't paid that much attention to them before I had one of my own.
Here are some examples just from recent daily readings:
"Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world . . . " John 8:12
"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" from Ephesians 5:8
"for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth" Ephesians 5:9 Had you noticed that before, the phrase "fruit of the light"? I am well acquainted with the "fruit of the Spirit" but "fruit of the light?" Is this an instance where "Spirit" and "Light" are used interchangeably? The Bible says Jesus is the "Light" and we know the Holy Spirit, God the Father and Jesus are One, so it makes sense!
Another verse, "but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel," 2 Timothy 1:10
"But you are . . . a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
Even from these few passages, we learn that Jesus Christ is the Light, and He gives light through the gospel. Believers are "His light" and expected to live in all goodness, righteousness and truth and to declare His praises!
It would be exciting to do a word study on "light" throughout the Bible. Hmmmmm. . . maybe later . . .
In one of my earlier blogs on Keys to Abundant Life, I talked about how each one of us travels to eternity in either the Kingdom of Darkness or the Kingdom of Light. It is Jesus Christ alone who has the power to rescue us from the dark land and transfer us to His kingdom of eternal peace and joy, through His sacrifice on the cross to pay for the sins of those who confess Him as Lord.
I did a short study of the scientific properties of light and listed them to show how Jesus Christ is a fulfillment of those aspects in the spiritual realm. This seems to be an appropriate time to share the "Light Chart":
PROPERTY OF LIGHT CHRIST AS OUR LIGHT
Causes plant growth Creates life and spiritual growth (1 Cor. 3:6-7)
Enables one to see clearly Causes us to see God's truth (John 14:16-17, 26)
Produces energy (stored light) Gives us energy and strength (1 Peter 4:11)
Illuminates the darkness and
cannot be destroyed by it Has power over the darkness of evil (Ecc. 2:13)
Causes reflection so we can
see ourselves Causes us to see our true selves, our sin (Is. 6:1-5)
Can be absorbed by an object,
sharing energy and warmth We live, move and exist in Christ. (Acts 17:28)
Can cause chemical change
without changing itself Christ indwells believers, yet He does not change
and does not consume us. (Rom 8:11, Mal. 3:6,
2 Cor. 5:17)
This Christmas may each of you rejoice in the freedom God offers to belong to His Kingdom of Light, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, and honor the Name of Jesus, the true and only source of Light in a world of darkness!
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