“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” – Isaiah 9:2 NKJV
All over the world, whether people believe in Jesus or not, the Christmas season is acknowledged as a festive period. By now, the streets and homes will be decked with decorations, lights and maybe a “Father Christmas”.
It is easy to lose sight of the reason for the season amidst the pomp, but as Christians, we must remember Jesus as the reason for the season. We must meditate on Jesus’ birth and what it means to us and the rest of the world. Yes, Christmas is only a few days away, but what it signifies should be something we celebrate all year.
In some churches, the next few days are spent contemplating Christ’s first and second coming. During seasons like this, the messaging that is prevalent in the worlds of media and entertainment is typically focused on gift-giving, family connection, and rest. While all of this is good, we must never forget that the greatest gift the world has received is the Son, the family that matters most is the family of Christ, and true rest is freedom from sin and condemnation.
As seen in our anchor verse, the Prophet Isaiah described the coming of Christ as light that shone in the dark. If you’ve ever been in a dark room before, you would know that moving around is a hazard waiting to happen. Even if you are familiar with the territory, you may still trip over a piece of furniture, or worse still hit your toe against a hard surface. But when light shines, everything changes; revelation has come and obstacles are identified.
Beyond “navigation in the dark”, the coming of Jesus revealed to us who God is in the best way possible. He revealed to us the errors of our ways, the folly of our sins, and the glorious love of God in the midst of it all. Anyone who believes in Jesus no longer has to walk in darkness.
Through Christ, the Father “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV)
Let this be your contemplation these few days leading up to Christmas.
Bible Reading Plan: Zechariah 5-9