Something to think about…
Last night we loaded up the kids in the minivan, we even threw in an extra one for good measure, and drove around town looking at all the amazing Christmas lights. It is one of our favorite family traditions. Some of the displays are definitely awe-inspiring. There are even a couple of houses in our little town that we’re certain are visible from outer space.
When we first moved to Big Spring, Texas, we knew nothing about it being the lighted poinsettia capital of the world. (I didn’t even know there was a competition going on for that coveted title.) The first lighted poinsettias we saw confused us. The kids were trying to figure out what in the world these things were and why they were everywhere. They ultimately decided the lights weren’t from this world. One said, “They look like some kind of alien life form that has come to take over our town.” Soon they developed this whole story about aliens that have come to conquer the earth. Then they began counting all the lighted poinsettias we saw on our drive. Once they reached 100, our daughter exclaimed, “This whole town is doomed! We’re all DOOMED!” Parenting is an adventure. Pray for us!
Lights are a significant part of our celebration because the “Light of the World” has come to penetrate the darkness. That may be why I’m so drawn to John’s version of the Christmas message. I think that John captures the cosmic implications of this moment, as he writes: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 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.” ~ John 1:1-5
Christ is the light in this dark world. We’ve all had the experience of navigating at night. We don’t want to wake others so we stumble around in the dark, thinking we know the way. As we take that next careful step, we land right on a lego! And chaos ensues. They should use those things as torture devices. Attempting to find our way in the dark always leads to pain, but God calls us to walk in the light.
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out 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, purifies us from all sin.” ~ 1 John 1:5-7
As we observe all the beautiful lights that pierce the darkness, may we be reminded to walk in the “Light of the World” this Christmas! May God reflect His light through us into the dark! Merry Christmas!