Christmas is a time of lights on trees, houses, and street lamp posts.  The wise men were guided by a heavenly light (”Star”) to Jesus the Messiah in Bethlehem.  Without lights, Christmas would be unrecognizable.  Lights and Christmas go together.

  As I thought about Christmas and lights, I couldn’t help but be drawn to contemplate the element of light in the Christmas faith.  And it is with this in mind I’d like to offer a Christmas meditation as we approach the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Among the references to light found in the Bible, light was the first of God’s creation… Light led to Jesus’ place of birth… Jesus said He was the light of the world… Christians are told to let their light shine… among many other things.  Here’s a list of things I’ve come up with regarding light that are cause for reflection in relation to our faith

Things To Consider About Light… 

Light is important and necessary to sustain life…

Light determines Earth’s ability to support life (Temperature, evaporation, wind, climate).

Plant life is dependent upon light (Photosynthesis)

Animal life is dependent upon plant life.

Human life is dependent upon animal and plant life.

Most of what we know about the universe comes from information that has been carried to us by light.

Light… What do we know?  Consider these properties of light and how they illustrate elements of God’s character.

Light cannot be captured… only it’s effects can be recorded (Picture). God cannot be captured, we see Him through what he has created.

Light travels in a vacuum at 186,000 miles per second.  God travels faster than light… at the speed of thought.

Energy is required for light to exist.  God is the source of all energy… God has always existed.

Light gives off warmth and heat.  God warms the heart and puts fire in our bones for ministry.

Light contains tremendous energy.  God is the source of infinite energy (Eph 3:20).

Light is an anomaly, it contains both waves and particles… but this contradicts the laws of physics.  God is incomprehensible (Is 55:8-9).

Light waves include gamma and X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radio waves.  God reveals himself in a variety of ways.

Light cannot be seen… we can only see what reflects it.  God cannot be seen, but we see Him through His creation and those who reflect His character.

A small amount of light can be seen from a great distance.  When God reveals Himself… even in a small way… the effect is dramatic and powerful.

Light can be reflected.  Christians reflect God’s light into a dark world.

Light can be absorbed.  The more time spent with God, the more like Him we become.

Light can be diffracted (Prism).  God is multidimensional and the One God can be understood many ways (As with His names).

Light can be concentrated (Magnifying glass).  God sometimes concentrates Himself and is called a revival or awakening.

Light can be focused.  God can laser in on one area of our heart or life to bring it under His Lordship.

Ligh can blind a person (The sun, lasers, arch welding).  Saul was blinded by the light of Jesus while on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9).

Light can kill (Laser).  No one can see God and live.

Light can heal (Laswer surgery, billi-rubin, and photo-therapy).  God is the great Physician and healer… most specifically of sin.

Light can be painful (Opening eyes to light after being in darkness).  Coming into God’s light (The process of conviction of sin) is painful.

Light can soothe (Warmth, Photo-therapy).  God’s discipline is good (Heb 12:11).

Light is powerful (Laser, photo-therapy).  God is omnipotent.

Light can reveal what is unseen (X-rays).  God can see into our heart and knows our motivations (1 Cor 4:5).

Light dispels darkness, yet darkness cannot dispel light.  The effect of God over sin and sin’s inability to overcome God.

Light can carry great amounts of information (Fiber optics).  The depth and amount of God’s wisdom cannot be contained by man.

Visible light has a specturm of colors.  God is multifacted and cannot be reduced to one thought, idea, attitude, or attribute.  Christ reveals God…

Granted, these are thoughts of one person as I recorded in one of my quiet times with God.  Hopefully they will encourage you as you contemplate God’s vast goodness in relation to light.  Each time we see lights during Christmas may our thoughts turn to the greatness of our God… His Son Jesus Chirst… and The Holy Spirit.