The Light in the Darkness

The Light In The Darkness

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:4-5

Have you ever turned out all of the lights and quietly sat in the darkness? How did it make you feel? Uneasy? Disoriented? Even maybe a little nervous? Each year we pull our Christmas tree from the attic and begin the tradition of decoration, but one year I saw the tree just a little different. Standing in the corner of our home, not yet decorated, our bare, unlit tree reminded me of a dark night sky; without the presence of the moon or any stars.

But once lit, the tree became bright and vibrant – like the night sky when it is lit by the brilliance of hundreds of stars. We must remember that the lights that adorn our trees are more than a reminder of God’s creation and great gift. They are a reminder that Christmas without Jesus is dark – as dark as an unlit Christmas tree.

John tells us that Jesus was born as the light who came into the darkness; our darkness. Without Jesus this world is a very dark place and away from God and lost to sin, there is no true light except Jesus. No matter how many Christmas tree lights we turn on, without the light of the Savior, we will still be lost in the darkness. God sent Jesus into the dark world to bring light and when we follow him we “will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). And we not only follow the light but Jesus says, we “are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), which means that we must also light this world, not with our own brightness, but with Jesus’ light.

Father, we thank you that you loved us enough to send the light of Jesus into our dark existence to be the light of life. Help us to be faithful disciples, follow Jesus, and project His light in this world. In Jesus’ holy name we pray, Amen.

Eric Roberson