2.  I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Packed in the mini-van, our family - plus grandparents - set out on a Christmas light adventure.  We drove on icy streets to the neighbourhoods of our city where the most creative and festive displays could be found.  The ooh's and ahhh's sounded from all over the vehicle as we gawked at the colourful, blinking lights.  And how amazing when we could tune in our radio to the FM frequency and hear Christmas carols as we watched animated Santa and reindeer, or Nativity scenes that looked so lifelike!

Light draws us, doesn't it? The brightness captures our attention and draws us to itself.  And its appeal is most powerful when all around is darkness. The sparkle and twinkle delights our senses with a childlike wonder.

In creation, God began by declaring "Let there be light." (Genesis 1:3)  He was not content with the darkness, the formless void of the universe, and so He established light by His very Word. The world was designed to function best with a balance of darkness and light, for optimum seasons of growth and rest.

But the world was plunged into spiritual darkness when Adam and Eve sinned.  With that sin came disease, conflict, danger and ultimately death.  There was nothing Adam and Eve could do to reverse their choice.  God pronounced consequences for their disobedience and generation after generation has lived under that curse. 

Isaiah, the prophet of the Old Testament, explained the state of the world thousands of years ago.  "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2)  To a world that was cold, dark and hopeless, came One who claimed to be "the light of the world."  (John 8:12)  Isaiah foretold in that same discourse who that promised Saviour would be.  "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

What hope is found in these verses? That God knew and understood our helplessness and gave us His own Son to be that light in our darkness.  And is it any wonder that God used a star, a supernatural and unusual sign in the sky, to direct wisemen from the east to Bethlehem?  The imagery of light is permeated throughout the Christmas narrative. We use candles, strings of lights, and often a star atop our trees to remind us of the greatest Light of all.

"Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12b)

Won't you follow the Light of the World and never have to walk in darkness again?