Christmas Lights

                Christmas Lights 

 

This year, December 1st ushers in the Advent Season, a time when we focus on the traditions of Christmas and the “reason for the season,” the birth of Jesus. 

Counting down the days until Christmas we often get distracted from its real meaning by the frenzied pace of Christmas preparation;  parties, shopping for presents and even church activities can dilute our focus from the true meaning.  So in my pre-Christmas ramblings, the "Lights of Christmas" got me to thinking about light and how the scriptures use it as a metaphor for God.  Here is what rambling thoughts fell out of my head this week.
 
Attempting to describe God with words is always a struggle, given the limitations of language.  God has been described in many ways, but one of the most powerful word descriptors for God is found in the Holy Scriptures.  In these passages, God and Christ are referred to as “light.”  I got to thinking that perhaps that is why Christmas lights have become such a big part of our religious as well as secular Christmas traditions. 

High school and college physics about the properties of light was a little fuzzy in my head, but a quick Google search assured me I'd remembered correctly.  I was astonished how the ancient Biblical writers, without benefit of scientific insights, had used the metaphor of light in characterizing God.

Consider the physics of the God & Light Metaphor

We cannot see light with our eyes, but only see objects as light reflects off of them.      

• Just as we’ve never seen light with our human eyes, we have never seen God, but
• God’s indwelling spirit allows us to “see” or understand the true meaning of life.
• It allows others to see God as we reflect his love through our lifestyle.

In the absence of light, darkness surrounds us.

• People, who live without God, essentially “live in darkness” and are “blind” to life’s real meaning.
• Even when our faith is weak, somewhat like a small candle in a large dark room, God’s presence pushes the darkness away, creating a circle of light around us.

Light is multi-faceted, composed of different wavelengths which when separated by a prism reveals many different colors.

• God is like that.  He is multi-faceted and touches each life in a unique way.  He is not limited to any social status, race, color or creed of humanity.

Light transmits through things unless they are opaque.  Depending on the substance, light may transmit as translucent or transparent.

• Like light, God’s spirit can shine through us as well.
• This Christmas ask, “ Is God revealed to others through me?”

§         Am I transparent (transmitting a clear image of God),

§         Am I translucent (projecting a fuzzy image of God), or

§         Am I opaque (totally blocking out any image of God)?

 Consider the Scripture's use of the God & Light Metaphor

I John 1:  5-7 (21^st Century King James Version)

5)  This then is the message which we have heard from Him and declare unto you:  that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.  6)  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.  7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Isaiah 60:3 

3)  All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

II Corinthians 4:4 (New Living Translation)

4)       Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.  They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.  They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

 Becky and I are already enjoying the lights of Christmas this year as we decorate our own home and as we drive around our town.  Join with us this Christmas season in the hope that the lights of Christmas will remind us of God’s true light. 

 

God is the light source that can illuminate a dark world or a dark heart,

but only if we seek him.  May we all be seekers.

God bless you,

may His light shine on

and through you this Christmas Season!