The darkness comes early in my part of the world, and these are some of the shortest days of the year. It is the perfect time to talk about the light that shines in the darkness.
If you have an Advent wreath you have lit the last of your candles before the final Christmas candle that some people place in the center. At my house our Advent log is alight with a blaze of candles that illuminates the whole room. It is a wonderful picture of how the light of Christ shines from each heart in a dark world.
In the Bible there had been a prophecy,”Isaiah 9:2:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Which was quoted by Matthew in his gospel after recounting that Jesus had gone to live in Zebulun and Naphtali, “to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah… the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
Like the song we like to sing at the beginning of our devotions,”It Only Takes A Spark” the light spreads as we, like the candles on our Advent log, are lit one after another with the life of Christ.
He is the Light of the World. we are the candles burning with that Light.
That is how we make a difference in the darkness.
Big People Section
Spiritually, intellectually, and physically it is possible to experience darkness, though most of us are unaware of spiritual darkness, as it creeps in around us slowly darkening our sight.
Why are children scared of the dark? Is it the unknown, or the feeling of being alone? Do we feel connected through our senses, especially our vision? When communication is cut off, it is said to “go dark”. Light is reassurance that we are not alone. Why is that?
If you were alone on an island, what would be your challenges? Why is isolation a form of punishment and even torture?
In the context of those thoughts, what is the meaning of being lights in the world? What do we bring to a world that is shrouded in darkness?
Photo credit: pedrojperez
