THE LIGHT WHO OVERPOWERED DARKNESS

Wandering in a dark place can be tricky. I experienced an event one night while navigating through a dark room, tired and barely able to keep my eyes open. Misjudging my location, I bumped into the corner of a door frame… ouch! Even unknown obstacles could put an individual in harm's way, such as a footrest not properly stored away. Darkness is hazardous!

Darkness is the way humanity lived before Jesus’ birth. It was a time of law-keeping and the haunting fear of failure, of trying by human effort to please God. It was a time of guilt and condemnation. By the marvelous grace of God, Jesus became flesh and dwelt among mankind, bringing favor, loving-kindness, and truth. He was the Light of the world (John 1:4,9)!

From the beginning of time, Jesus was the Light shining in darkness. He has always been the Light. In fact, “all things were made and came into existence through Him” (John 1:3). We see from the moment of creation that the Light was at work. On day one, when darkness covered the earth, God said, “Let there be light; and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The Amplified version of Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the “Light-being; the out-raying or radiance of the divine,” meaning that He is the exact likeness of the Father in all of His glory. Jesus is the Light that shines in the darkness, and darkness cannot overpower the Light of Jesus Christ (John 1:5). He is the Light of truth, revealing the Father and the magnificent nature of a loving God. This is the Good News that Jesus was born to share with us.

Jesus as the Light guides our steps. Scripture confirms that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1). “The Word (Christ) became flesh” (John 1:14). As the Word, He is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). With His eye upon us, the Lord guides us in the direction that we should go according to His Word. He is the foundation of a well-balanced life in Him. His truth is light that breaks through all darkness and provides everlasting hope in a faithful God.

He is our rescuer. Redeeming our life from the destruction that doomed man following the fall of Adam and Eve, He keeps our feet from slipping; we live in the presence of His life-giving light (Psalm 56:13). We are kept on the path of Light. By the action of the Light, we have been transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of God’s love; we live in the presence of the Light even while on earth (Colossians 1:13). Darkness resulting from the sinful nature of man caused a separation from the Father. But Jesus restored us, bringing us into the radiating presence of Almighty God; He took us out of that dark place.

Darkness causes us to fear as we stumble, fall, and try to make our way through. But the Light shows us a love that eliminates all fear; there is no fear in love, but perfect love removes all fear (1 John 4:18). We are not condemned, but by the truth that Light provides, we know the unconditional love of an amazing God Who is always for our good!

A celebration of Christmas is the celebration of the Light, of the One Who has broken through a dark world, shining continuously through His Word and through our lives. Glory to God!