We made it! With the winter solstice, daylight is increasing now instead of diminishing.
The long nights show the wonders of the sky. Northern light displays are beautiful to watch. The moon, stars, comets, “falling stars,” galaxies, planets, and other phenomena of space are all amazing to see. Even manmade objects such as satellites are visible in the night sky.
God used night and day to display his power. The Israelites delivered from Egyptian bondage were led by God through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
It’s fitting that light is very much a part of the Christmas season. I like the colorful displays of lights in trees, wreaths, yard ornaments, on city light poles, and manger scenes. All those lights help offset the winter darkness.
You can read prophecies of the Messiah written by Isaiah describing him as a great light in the darkness. He will be a light to the people. The shadow of death will have the light shine. These and other scriptures help to show his purpose.
The birth of Jesus involved displays of light that were divinely ordered. The wise men in the gospel story were observers of the night sky. Their skill as astronomers helped them to identify the star that led them to the Christ child.
Shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem were startled by a display of bright light from the glory of God. Their astonishment increased as the angel told them of the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. They heard the heavenly host praising God, declaring peace and good will to men. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see.
Jesus made the claim, “I am the light of the world.” He added that those who follow him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. The two times he used that phrase included when a woman was rescued from stoning and then told to sin no more, and when a man born blind was healed. Jesus can take care of our spiritual and physical needs.
The third time Jesus made a reference to being light to the world he said, “I am come a light unto the world.” Again he said that believers will not be in darkness. John, who was inspired to write about light more than any of the other gospel writers, recorded, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
When God said, “Let there be light,” he created something that is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:6 reads, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
The glory of God illuminates heaven. No night will be there. The absence of sin and satan will be heaven. No tears, sorrow, crying, pain, and death will be the reality of heaven. The Bible says the Lord God will be the light and those walking in that light will forever rejoice.
This Christmas and on into the New Year, let’s do as the Bible says and “walk in the light as he is in the light.”
Mitch Glover is pastor of Sterling Pentecostal Church. Sunday services include Bible classes for all ages at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Bible study is Thursday at 7 p.m. Visit the services and sterlingpentecostalchurch.com.
