The people walking in garkness have seen a greta light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
It seems that each year about this time of season the Lord impresses upon a one word theme. This year it is "light."
For some reason, this Christmas season my attention has been drawn to Christmas lights. There is something fascinating about light. As I vacationed this past week on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, I was mesmerized by the lights that lit up the hillside surround the harbor of Frenchman’s Bay. I was reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 5:14, "A city on a hill cannot be hidden..."
A couple of years ago I was able to walk through Ezekiels' tunnel in the City of David, Jerusalem, Israel. As our tour group weaved its way through this 3 1/2 foot wide and maybe 5 foot tall tunnel, the power failed and the lights went out. We had to grope our way through darkness, feeling the sides of the tunnel, hoping that we would not trip or hit our head in the darkness. Fortunately, a few of us had cell phones and were able to sort of light our way with the back lit screens. what a welcom sight was the daylight. Sometimes we find ourselves on a dark journey in life.
With the coming of winter our nights become longer and our days shorter. Winter light casts longer shadows. The shadows appear to be longer than the actual object that projects the shadow. And so it seems within the thoughts of our minds as we struggle to overcome the dark shadows of our life’s struggles. Sometimes our dark or shadowing thoughts appear larger than they really are.
Many people are affected by SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This condition occurs as a result of a lack of light. Depression, oversleeping, daytime fatigue, carbohydrate craving, and weight gain are some of the symptoms. Lethargy, hopelessness, lack of interest in normal activities, and social withdrawal often accompany SAD. An increase in artificial light is often the cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Some Christians seem to have a spiritual form of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Instead of the use of artificial light (a substitute), there needs to be an increased dose of the Son of God, Jesus, into their lives.
Every morning I get up before the break of dawn and sit down in my favorite chair with a cup of coffee and turn on the lamp beside me in order to read my Bible. Almost every morning without exception, if I don’t twist the on/off knob just right, the bulb flickers on and off. You would think I would get it fixed or just replace the thing. But I don’t. Jeanne likes it, so it won’t be replaced. And it’s not like I don’t know how to fix it. My dad was an electrician and I learned a lot from him. It's just that I find myself either too lazy, too busy, or too distracted by other things in my life to bother with it. So, I live with this flickering lamp. Sometimes I find myself and see other Christians living like that flickering lamp, going on and then going off. Sometimes we become dimmer and then get brighter. It can be very irritating, yet I choose not to change the lamp or fix the loose connection. Some of us remain in the same state in which my lamp is. Frustration and irritableness radiates outwardly from deep within instead of the light of life sparkling through.
I am reminded of the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mat. 25:1-13). Five virgins had their lamps lit and full and were prepared with an additional container of oil as they waited for the bride groom. Five only had the oil that was in their lamp. The bridegroom delayed in his coming. The five that had not additional oil ran out and sked the other five to share their oil with them. They were told to go and buy more. But while they were gone, the bridegroom came and received the five that were prepared and had sufficient oil for their lamps. It is in the winter of our soul that we need to have additional oil and to hold on tight to the oil that we do have in order for our light of life to keep burning.
Paul wrote to the church at Rome these words (Rom 13:11-12 NIV):
…the hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Robert Caro wrote a book about former president, Lyndon B. Johnson. Many will remember or know that Johnson ascended to the presidency through the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Others will remember him for his conduct of the Viet Nam War. Still others will recognize him for his war on poverty. But Caro found, however, that the Hill country of Texas where Johnson first began his career as a congressman remembered him for something else.
While interviewing people of the Hill country, no matter who Caro talked to, he found people repeating one phrase over and over about Johnson. “He brought the lights! No matter what he was like, we love him because he brought the lights.” In 1937, when Johnson was elected to congress at age 28 there was no electricity in the Hill country. By 1948, when he was elected to the Senate, most of his district had electricity. ”He brought the lights.”
Isaiah proclaimed: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given..." (Isa 9:6 NIV).
The apostle John expressed best what the coming of the Christ Child meant for mankind when he compared it to light coming into the world of darkness:
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:5 New Living Translation)
Jesus brought light. More than that, Jesus is the light of the world.
A few years before 1920, the Sadacca family arrived in the U.S. from Spain. At that time they were manufacturing wicker cages with artificial birds inside, which contained tiny battery operated flashlight bulbs. But sales were slow and finally petered out. The novelty had worn off.
Then 15 year old Albert Sadacca read a newspaper account of a house fire caused by Christmas tree lights. The thought came to him, “Why not make strings of lights for Christmas trees? They would be much safer than candles.” It seemed like a good idea, so he was able to persuade his family to switch from caged imitation birds to Christmas lights.
Up to that point, North America and most of the rest of the world lit up Christmas trees dangerously, using small candles in metal holders. The only problem was that periodically, a tree would go up in flames. Sometimes not only the tree but the presents as well went up in flames, and sometimes even the entire house, and even death resulted for some of the homeowners.
The Sadacca family sold only 100 bulbs in their first year of operation. Now the firm, Norma World-Wide Inc., has sold over 700 million bulbs in a single season and reaches out in several countries of the world. Safe Christmas lights are now a part of the Holiday Season inspired by a 15 year old boy named Albert Sadacca.
Jesus, the light of the world, is an inspiration to a multitude of people who live in darkness!
It was Christmas lights that saved Captain Stewart Spurr and his crew of Pacific Western Airlines. They were flying over Vancouver, B.C. to Kelowna, to pick up passengers when one engine cut out completely. The plane was at 30,000 feet over the town of Hope when the failure occurred. The pilot turned back toward Vancouver. About five miles from Vancouver, the second engine began to sputter and fail. Captain Spurr knew he had to find a place to land fast.
In recounting his story, Spurr said, “Christmas lights, decorating the houses, showed me where the residential area was. Then I spotted a patch of black among the lights. I dared not lower the landing gear. I knew I had to belly flop the plane.” He did, right smack into James Tonaski’s strawberry field.
Captain Spurr and his crew will always be thankful that the Sadacca family came all the way from Madrid, Spain to North America to originate lighting by light bulbs at Christmas time. Because of it all four crew members were saved from death.
Jesus is that light that the world is seeking this Christmas. Jesus is the true (authentic) light that you are seeking to lift the darkness and shadows that are present in your life.
John 8:12 VIV
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
We, the followers of Jesus Christ have the light of life. Our lives are to lighten darkened homes and darkened communities.
Matt 5:14-16 NIV
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
I like how The Message phrases these verses in Matt 5:14-16:
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."
The light that is within us is a powerful message! It is one of salvation, one of deliverance, one of hope, one of overcoming, one peace, one of contentment, one of protection, one of victory.
Isa 9:6-7 NIV
...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Again, I like The Message:
"...His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this."
Jack Jones was a Welsh coal miner’s son. In his auto-biography, Unfinished Journey, he tells about a terrifying incident as a boy. He was down in the mine with his father, when something went wrong, and the men had to find another way out.
They struggled through a maze of tunnels. Jack’s father was one of the best miners and he was a devoted father. He took Jack on his back and led his fellow miners over the dangerous ground in search of a way out. In the foul air, the flames of their lamps began to weaken
As they came near the dark water in the mine, Jack’s father said, “Careful, son, hold fast around dad’s neck.” Slowly he worked his way through the murky water which was almost up to his chest. Across the water, they started up a steep incline. After a time, he stooped and knelt down and pointed. “Look son.” And there in the distant was a bright disk about the size of a half dollar, on what appeared to be a distant mountain. “That’s what we’ve been looking for, son – the light of the world. Come on!” And the light grew in size as they climbed their way to the world’s surface.
What a beautiful picture – being led out of our darkness. And leading others to the light of the world.
"The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."
