Christian Living
Did you know that in early modern Germany, candles were the first form of lights used for decorating homes during the annual celebration of Christmas? These days, fairy lights (Christmas lights) and Christmas decorations on Christmas trees have become quite customary decoration trends in most homes at Christmas.
At Christmas, holiday lights are used to beautifully adorn homes, Christmas trees, commercial buildings, playgrounds, etc, and don’t they just come in different dazzling combinations, configurations and colors?
Everyone gets excited and awed by the ornate display of the twinkling Christmas lights. If you ask me why this is so, I believe it’s connected to the nature of light coupled with its attractive and colorful arrays on Christmas trees.
As perplexing a phenomenon as light has been to scientists, its key characteristics that have been unraveled are that; light stimulates the sight and makes things visible. Light illuminates; bringing radiance, brilliance, glow and a glaring dazzle. Light dissipates darkness (hopelessness) and ushers in daylight (hope). These and maybe a few more characteristics and benefits of light are irrefutable as we can attest to them from our daily living.
These descriptions we find in the literature of light however doesn’t include it being human. John 1:6-9 describes light in human form, specifically introducing a form of light known as the true light.
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
John 1:6-9 NKJV
According to John, John the Baptist’ job was simply to witness of this true light. And in John 8:12, this true light described Himself as the light of the world….
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NKJV
What audacity! What confidence! What boldness! That a man would present Himself as the source of light for the world! The source of life which gives light and which is the light of life!
Little wonder then the world didn’t like Him. He spoke with an irritating audacity and with an infuriating pomposity. How dare He claim to be light? Light is pure, light shows direction, light is knowledge, light carries development in itself, light illuminates and light always dissipates darkness. How dare anyone claim to be light?
A light capable of depositing and igniting light in anyone, yes, anyone who believes and receives the life of light. Such a one doesn’t just become light, but first receives the life of the true light to become just as He is, and also to become identified as a child of God. Ho-ho!
“That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:9, 12-13 NKJV
Which is how even I (Grace) became light. I am light. And you too are light (having been born of God). A city set on a hill that brings illumination to the world around. A light that cannot be hidden, put under a basket or extinguished by darkness (John 1:5, Luke 11:33). We bring hope to our environment and beyond. We are embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, counsel, might, and understanding. We have the Spirit of God, imputed and imparted in us by the life of light.
Dearly beloved, as we celebrate this Christmas Season, we must remember who we are and what we represent. Let’s share love, hope and faith.
Oh! Say of yourself…..I Am Light!
And be the light 🙂
