November 28, 2016
by Dr. John Neihof
Why do we have lights at Christmas? I think that it’s because of the lights of that first Christmas when Jesus entered the world. Heaven shone the light of the angels upon the shepherds. Eternal Father positioned the star whose light led the wise men from the East to the house where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were staying. Jesus, the Light of the world, and the lights celebrate His arrival to our sin darkened planet.
It’s interesting to observe the secularization of Christ’s birthday. I remember a book someone wrote a few years ago titled, “The War on Christmas.” The author described the symbols of Christ’s birth that are no longer politically correct, now cast aside in an attempt to remove deity from our lives. But in spite of all the anti-Christmas and anti-Christ rhetoric, Christmas fighters have not mentioned or attempted to ban one of the most important religious symbols of the season. The lights! His light may be one of the most important symbols of this season.
“In the beginning was the Word.” God’s creative word called this world into existence out of nothing, proclaiming, “Let there be light!” Sometime ago I read that of the 800,000 words in the English language an average person knows 10,000 words and uses 5,000 per day. God spoke creative word, and worlds came into existence. Only God can do that.
Even the godless have to reckon with reality. I once read that near the end of his life, philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, told someone:
“I do not feel that I am the product of chance, a speck of dust in the universe, but someone who was expected, prepared, prefigured. In short, a being whom only a Creator could put here; and this idea of a creating hand refers to God.”
From the beginning of time, God was consumed with Light. Triune God lives in Light—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The first Word of creation was light. The Apostle John recognized Jesus as the Light—the Light of the world. Light conquered darkness in Creation. Light conquered darkness in the birth of Jesus. Light conquers the darkness today.
Jesus, the Light of the world, is our victory over darkness. That’s why we have lights at Christmas. He is the Light of Salvation. He is the Light of the World. Let Eternal Light light your world this Christmas.