Heartprints

Jesus Christ, The LIGHT of the World

When I was young, I had a favorite spot under the Christmas tree, tucked in between the living room curtains and a big wing back chair. I would spend hours there reading or singing Christmas songs in the dark with the tree lights softly shining. I loved that time alone talking with God and imagining what the first Christmas was like.

When I was young, I had a favorite spot under the Christmas tree, tucked in between the living room curtains and a big wing back chair. I would spend hours there reading or singing Christmas songs in the dark with the tree lights softly shining. I loved that time alone talking with God and imagining what the first Christmas was like.

Many years before that first Christmas, Isaiah foretold that “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isaiah 9:2). And so it was when Jesus was born, He came as THE LIGHT in order to dispel the darkness of this world. Just as Isaiah had prophesied, The Light that would bring salvation had come into this world (Isaiah 49:6). His coming made it possible for us to have eternal life by trusting in Christ alone for salvation.

The moment we place our faith in Him, we are brought “out of darkness and into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus tells us that “no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” but instead “will have the light of life” (John 12:46; 8:12). Because Jesus came as The Light, when we trust Him we can proclaim without fear “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1).

Even though I'm older, I still love the colored lights of my Christmas tree. One of my favorite evening activities is to build a fire in the fireplace and listen to Christmas carols by the light of the fire and the Christmas tree. The lights shine brightly as a reminder to me of THE LIGHT of the world, Jesus Christ.

 

“I have come into the world as a LIGHT, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”  John 12:46

 

Originally published in Dallas Theological Seminary's Christmas Devotionals publication.