Women's Corner 2005 Archive

2-13-08

Shining Lights

          “The Christmas season is over!” People have been hounding me to take down the tree, and “box up the lights, already.” I finally had to yield to the pressure and take down the tree about the middle of last month and put away all the lights. (I know… I should be talking about something relating to love and Valentine’s Day, but bear with me.) I just hate putting the lights away. I love them. The lights are really my favorite decoration of the Christmas season. I put them up early, and keep them up until the last possible moment. Those tiny little white lights are amazing, and so meaningful—not only when we celebrate Jesus, the ultimate Light of the world, but also throughout the year, when we reflect on who Jesus is and who we are through Him.

          The Bible speaks volumes about light and darkness. Isaiah says that the people who were formerly in darkness experienced a great light when Jesus came on the scene. Many things happen when light comes on the scene. For one thing, darkness and all that is associated with darkness, goes away. Fear, anxiety, the unknown, and the inability to see clearly and experience fully all disappear in the presence of light. Light brings comfort, even if it is a small, soft nightlight in the corner of a big, dark bedroom.

           Jesus is the light of the world. As His followers, we also are commissioned to be lights in the world (Matthew 5:13) Going back, for a moment, to the lights at Christmas time, one of the favorite events for many at the holiday is to view the lights of the season. We have “festivals of lights” and other events that encourage us to view lighted trees or drive the streets of the town to see the various light decorated houses and displays. What better of a way to celebrate the arrival on Earth of the Light of the World?

           We, too, are to be the light of the world. We are told to let our light (Jesus within us) shine before men, that they might see our good works and give glory to our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).  I have had the opportunity recently to fly across the country, and some of that flight has been at night. I noticed several things about flying at night (kind of similar to living in a world of darkness). First, when we were up in the air, all was dark, except for occasional clusters of lights here and there, where the areas of population were. LIGHTS SIGNIFIED LIFE. Second, seeing lights on the ground gave a certain comfort and calm to those flying. At least the sight of lights now and then gave us assurance that we weren’t flying aimlessly through space. We were still on some type of course. Also, upon landing, (and also on take-off) it was lights that made the safe transition from the air to solid ground possible. LIGHTS SHOWED THE WAY.

           The Bible says in Ephesians 5:13-14, that everything is clear in the light. LIGHT MAKES EVERYTHING CLEAR. Are we living in uncertain times? Are we living in times in which the answers or ways to go seem to be difficult to find or discern? Shine the Light on the situation!  Jesus is our light. Jesus in our life makes our lives clear. He will shine the light on every issue and nook and cranny of our lives. He will shine His light on every corner of our soul and mind, and free us to become all we were created to be, both individually, and to a hurting world. He will shine His light of understanding on every issue in the world we live in, and give us comfort and peace, and show us the way through it, so that we will be able to do the same for others. We have Christ’s light to shine on our world. Who do those who live in spiritual darkness have to shine light on their situations?    They have US!  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” (See Matthew 5:14-16.

           The world longs for truth, and we who have the Spirit of Christ within us, have the fruit of the light (or Spirit) (Ephesians 5:9-10) that results in goodness, rightness, and truth- discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. Along with “what the world needs now is love sweet love”, (remember that song?) the world needs goodness, rightness, and truth.

Everything exposed by the light is made clear, for what makes everything clear is light, therefore it is said:

                   Get up sleeper,

                   And rise up from

                   The dead, and the

                   Messiah will shine 

                   On You

Has the Messiah shone on you? Have you put your Christmas lights away?