The Real Light of Christmas

"In [Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men." - John 1:4

One of my favorite traditions of the Christmas season is to light up the night in lights. Before we even turn the calendar to December, neighborhoods and businesses, homes and churches all burst in patterns of red, green, and white. Who doesn't love decorating the Christmas tree, then turning out all the other lights in the room to enjoy the twinkling lights? Even a single candle burns brightly against the backdrop of the darkness.

This tradition is well suited to the real celebration of the season. The Bible says that when Jesus Christ was born, the light came into the world (John 3:19). In fact, more than 200 times in the Bible, God is described as light. Figuratively and literally, whenever God appears, light appears. It happened in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, all the way until the end of time when the book of Revelation tells us that in hell there will only be darkness and in heaven there will only be light. When we celebrate Christmas, we remember the day in history when Jesus stepped from heaven to earth, bringing with Him the light that drives out the darkness in man's heart. This is amazing news! You may be wondering, what does this have to do with me? Or, what does it mean to have the light of life? Those are the right questions to ask. There are many ways to describe the gift that God wants to give you, but let's start here. Ask yourself, What should I do with the light of the world?

Have you ever been in some pitch-black place when you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face? That's what life is like without Jesus. You can't fully appreciate the light until you feel the weight of the darkness. If you feel alone and trapped, searching but not finding--Jesus Christ is the light. If you feel cruelly crushed under the wrongs done to you--Jesus Christ is the light. If you feel perplexed by an issue or circumstance that you can't figure out--Jesus Christ is the light. Maybe that describes you. If you want to know the way out, you first have to admit that you're in darkness. You don't understand the purpose of life. You're not ready to die but you're also not fully living. You don't see any hope worth trusting. But it all can change right now.

Before any of us turned to Jesus, nothing made sense to us either. We couldn't sort out anything in this mixed up world. But since receiving Jesus as our Savior, we understand what's going on. Although life still isn't perfect we realize what sin does to our lives and we take hold of the provision of forgiveness. Suddenly Christmas is so much more than a stale exchange of gifts and some silly guy in a red suit. At Christmas we celebrate the forgiveness of sin that can only be found in Jesus.

16. Looking Back: Where I've Been & Why I Blog

Even as things are comming to an end in my first semester here at Mississippi College, it seems as though life is only getting busier and busier. Make-up tests, studying for final exams, end of the semester parties, and to add on to that, my roomate is moving out next semester. Amidst this time of congested work and "busy-ness", I have developed a new interest and talent in blogging over the past few months.

Blogging has helped me to not only focus on reflection, but it allows me to focus on what is going on in my life, and how God is working through every single circumstance to provide for my life, my spirit, and my future. I blog not only to refelect about myself, but to offer an encouragement to those who have the same feelings, or who need an uplifting word in thier own troubled experiences. I have gained a lot from blogging, and blogging has required a lot from me. I find that the more I put into blogging, the better focus I have on my personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It provides a chance for personal insight, and a vista into what I'm trying to accomplish as I pursue the Lord's calling for my life.

At times in this semester, and especially now, I have felt very stressed and anxious about certain exams, circumstances, and events. But by blogging about my feelings, it sort of acts as a slight "stress-reliever". This is how journaling has been used for. Blogging is simply an online way to share your thoughts, ideas, and feelings with millions of other people over the internet. Therefore, I strive to use every chance I get in writing these blogs to share not only my life experiences with others, but how Christ first saved me, and how He is shaping me into the person He desires me to be. I hope that anyone reading or that has read this blog will only benefit from what I have reflected upon, and the feelings and truths I have expressed. I intend to continue this blog in the future, and also develop my new blog project, http://thechristianbrotherhood.blogspot.com. I always greatly appreciate those who have taken the time to comment and read my blog. God Bless, and I look forward to continuing my journey in Christ, and walking in His "footsteps".

15. Hope for This Christmas

The Christmas season has just started, yet for me it feels like such a long wait. The transition between winter and fall is my most favorite season, especially the temperature change, the beautiful colors, my birthday, my mom's birthday, my parent's anniversary, and of course the advent of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of whom we celebrate the day on which He was born. As I begin to think about the season this year and what it means to me, I realized how fortunate we are as God's children. As many of us take for-granted this phenomenal truth, there are many "orphans" out there, unbelievers wallowing in the filth of their own lives of which they have no idea how deep a hole they have dug for themselves. This analogy of "orphans" reminds me of a song written a few years ago for the Christmas season by a Christian artist, Toby McKeehan. 

"This Christmas"

Now Johny never got his wish on December 25

That's what he said when he left the orphanage

9 years old, but Johny was an old soul

Gonna spend his first Christmas in a real home

Showed me a picture that he drew the night before

Was a picture of a man standin' outside a door

I asked him who it was and he said someone I only see in dreams

Comforts me when I cry myself to sleep

Believe in angels?

Johny asked me starin' at the sky

I said I do and saw a sparkle in his eye

Big brother for the weekend respondin' to the season

Took the chance that givin's better than recievin'

Two nights, a new family, some holiday cheer

We laughed and sang

Came on a midnight clear

We gave, recieved, and as we headed to close

We looked to the heavens and it started to snow

Down blessings

[Chorus]

Father of the fatherless

Be with your sons and daughters this Christmas

Father let us not forget

The children who are all alone this Christmas

This illustration of adoption is a good lesson for the beauty of God's work of claiming us as His own. The Apostle Paul tells us we have been adopted by God and are now heirs of His divine promises (see Romans 8, Galatians 4). But what are we to make of our lives when it seems that, despite our faith, we are alone in the world? If you have ever felt isolated, cut off, or singled out, then you know what it is to feel hopelessly alone, as if God Himself has turned His back on you. In times like these, we can remember one of the Christ-child's names: "Emmanuel"-God with us. And indeed, only once has God ever turned His back on His own, as the grown Christ exclaimed from the cross, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Thus, the Father rejected His Son for our sake. Jesus died alone so we would never be alone. Since we have been adopted into God's family with Christ our brother, and led by the Holy Spirit, "by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Rom. 8:15), we have hope. So as we try to not get caught up in all the "hustle and bustle" of the season, let's try to remember the true reason for the season. For this time of year should remind us that because of Christ, we will never be alone, and neither should the lost. Focus not on getting and receiving, but on giving the gift that Christ first gave to us, spreading the hope, planting the seed, displaying the light of Christ to those who are "orphaned" in their own spiritual lives. What better way to show the true spirit of Christmas: the birth of Hope.