Article written by: Sister Pat Smith, Grandmothers of Hope Society, Inc.
God said, “Let there be light.” Genesis 1:5.
Jesus said, “I am the Light.” John 8:12.
Jesus said, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in darkness.” John 12:46
As I look forward to the hopes and happiness that the Christmas and winter holidays bring, I find myself getting excited about the lights that so many of us use to mark the holiday. As a child growing up in a small town, in a modest home, in a rural setting, the light from our fireplace, wood burning stove, candles and the big old fashion lights strung on the live tree, are reminders of the warmth and love of family. My dad would bundle us up and drive us through the lighted spring park, through rural communities or through the streets of the nearest business district just so my brother and I could enjoy seeing the colorful lights and decorations announcing the Christmas season. When traveling through unincorporated rural areas during these winter nights in December, even the cloudless night sky seemed brighter as the light of the stars shone through to dispel the darkness.
As I was praying about how I could communicate my affinity to light and what I might write about in this article that would both combine the spirit of the Christmas story and would also stay true to my Grandmothers of Hope ministry’s “Jesus Said” series, I was reminded of the scripture in the book of Genesis where God says “Let there be light”. I’d never really thought about the Christmas story beginning in the first verses of the Bible, yet I am convinced that it did. Our Creator spoke light into the world, separated it from darkness and then placed stars in the sky of the darkness to light the earth. In verse 4 “God saw that the light was good!” It is evident throughout the scriptures that God favors light over darkness. And I suppose this is why young children and some of my own grandchildren, don’t like the dark but instead are physically and sometimes spiritually drawn to love the light…. especially the lights of Christmas.
In the beginning the Word already existed. The word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2. The Christmas story about Jesus started before His appearance as the baby in the manger because Jesus has been here all along. Verses 4-5 help me understand the significance of Jesus’ birth. “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it” is a scripture I have often quoted or posted many times during the last few years as our world seems to be spiraling into darkness.
Jesus, Himself said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have light that leads to life.” John 8:12. Jesus also said “…but while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world” John 9:5.
The Christmas lights this season reminds me that Jesus came into my life to dispel and overcome the darkness. And though to some, the celebration of Christmas may only lead us to the trappings of the holiday like eating, buying, giving, and receiving gifts, we should also celebrate Christmas because Jesus came to save us from the darkness of sin. He wants to bring His light into the darkness in our lives. He wants to forgive, He wants to heal, He wants to protect us, He wants to bless us, He wants a relationship with us, He wants to save us, and He wants us to live in eternity with Him.
Christmas lights not only remind me of the true Light of the World, His love for me and what He wants to do in my life, but these reflections can also prompt us to “be” lights for others so that we might “point” others to the Light, too. Jesus came into the world to show us our sinfulness, but also to show us the way of salvation. So, I’m convinced that one thing we could begin to do is to “be” the light that Jesus already declared us to be. Matthew 5:14-16. In Ephesians 5:8, Paul writes “…for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the Light.”
As my bible study group and I have been studying, we are lights to the world in as much as we reflect the character of Jesus as He taught in the Sermon on the Mount. Paul, too, reminds us to “do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
So, as we celebrate the love, hope, joy, and peace that the birth of our Lord Jesus gifted us, let us remember to point others to our Savior and greatest Light of the world. Let’s also be lights, ourselves, that reflect the character of Jesus by reflecting His light to this world of ever-increasing darkness.
Two simple things we might do as grandmothers this season, is to point our grandchildren and others to the Light:
- Read or tell a Christmas story from the Bible rather than from books like Rudolph and Santa Claus. The Word of God is alive and powerful and though the response may seem to lead to nothing, God’s Word will expose innermost thoughts and desires that can lead to deeper conversations.
- Volunteer to pray, when gathered for a meal with family or friends and simply pray in thanksgiving for what we celebrate at Christmas, worshiping and honoring God for sending us a His Son, Jesus.
Though many of my memorable and enduring Christmas traditions include enjoying the different kinds of lights–lights on trees, lights in and on our homes, candles on our tables or bright stars in the winter sky–May the beautiful lights of this Christmas season remind us of Him who is the source of all light and how we might help enlighten the way to the Father for our children and others!
Scripture References
Genesis 1:1-5
John 1:1-5
John 8:12
John 9:5
John 12:46
Matthew 4:16
Matthew 5
Ephesians 5:8
Philippians 2:14-15
SONG: Lira – Let There Be Light
https://youtu.be/LZMkstUaX_U
Article written by Sister Pat Smith
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry
Board Member