In today’s post Jaime Hlavin unpacks the always-inspiring Christmas theme of light. Jesus is the light of the world, the answer for the world, the only hope for the world. He brings hope to the hopeless and light to blind eyes. All of us at Converge Coaching wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! ~ John.

 

During the Christmas season, many of the songs we sing are filled with scripture from the prophet Isaiah of the Old Testament. The book of Isaiah is filled with declarations about the coming of the Messiah.

Chapter 9 of Isaiah contains many of the words we hear in so many of the joyous songs we sing:

“For unto us a child is born.”

“Wonderful Counselor.”

And the list goes on. The chapter opens with a prophetic message about the situation when the Messiah enters the world:
“…The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned…” Isaiah 9:2

In the original Hebrew, that word dark means “blackness or gloom.”  When I hear this definition, it suggests imagery of when you first turn the lights off in a room. There is absolutely no light. You are plunged into absolute darkness and can’t even see your hand in front of your face. You might stumble as you walk or grope in front of you to find your way around.

The word “gloom” has a heavy, oppressive sense to it. Some synonyms for gloom include sullen, discouraged, depressed.

And you’re thinking “Why are you talking about gloom and darkness? The Christmas season is one associated with light, hope, and joy!” Let’s talk about the light that has dawned!

Don’t worry . . . I’m getting there.

But I think it’s necessary to address the elephant in the room: Sometimes the Christmas season is difficult. We might feel like we’re forcing ourselves through the motions or just faking it due to our own hard, heavy circumstances. Or the dark and sinful times in which we live are magnified as we place them next to the glitter and glitz of the Holidays. Our own pain and hurt along with the brokenness of the world is more apparent when we’re met with images of joy, happiness, and wonder all around us.

Here are a couple of observations that I’ve made about walking in darkness:

 

Sometimes your eyes adjust to the darkness, and you become okay with it

Even when your eyes have adjusted, you are not seeing clearly or accurately. For example, if you’re lying in bed and you think you see a random person sitting on the chair in your room, it startles you. It takes you a second to realize it’s merely a pile of clothes. Just because you’ve adjusted to the darkness, it doesn’t mean you’re seeing accurately or that you aren’t afraid.

Darkness can make you angry

Think about the last time you stumbled through a dark room and inadvertently stepped barefoot on a Lego. Instant pain and instant rage. You’re mad because there’s stuff on the floor. You’re mad at whoever left it there. But ultimately, you’re mad at the fact that the darkness prevented you from seeing it. And now you’re in pain.

We are often frustrated and filled with rage at the darkness because we don’t have an accurate view of life. The things in the darkness hurt us.

But take heart! Isaiah tells us that those walking in darkness can experience a great light. (I told you I’d get there!) Jesus is that light. In the New Testament, when He fulfills this prophecy, the Apostle John tell us in his gospel, chapter 1 verses 9-10: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.”

And Jesus call Himself the light in John 8:12. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 

We talked about my observations on darkness . . . so let’s talk a little bit about my observations on light. Light does many things:

 

Light brings clarity

After you flip on the light, the pile of clothes on the chair no longer resembles a scary dude sitting in your room in the middle of the night. You see things correctly.

Light drives away confusion

When you’re groping your way through the dark, you get turned around and confused about where you are. Adding light to the situation removes confusion about your location and circumstances.

It purifies

An interesting quality about UV light is that it can kill mold, bacteria, and some viruses. Direct sunlight can serve as a disinfectant and can even purify contaminated water.

Light causes things to grow

I have a plant that I keep near a sunny window. I need to turn it periodically because it starts to reach toward the window, and I want it to grow evenly. My plant grows toward the sunlight.

 

Jesus is the Light of the World and He does those same things:

• He brings clarity and drives away confusion. We’re told in scripture that he renews the way we think.
• He purifies us by forgiving our sins and making us new.
• He causes us to grow. Walking with Him, we grow spiritually.

When we’ve experienced the Light, it’s important we don’t forget what it’s like to walk in darkness. I am not encouraging you to dwell on past sin and revel in it. But rather, let’s not have amnesia about what we’ve been rescued from and so lose empathy for those still walking in it.

Make it a practice to reflect on what it felt like to be rescued from the darkness. And then shine the Light into those dark places and help others see past the Legos that keep destroying their feet. In our displeasure toward sin and darkness, let’s not get angry at those trapped in it. But instead, ask God to help you reflect His light with the qualities of bringing clarity, dispelling confusion, perpetuating purity, and encouraging growth.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14-16:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Let’s shine the light of the Messiah—the true reason we celebrate Christmas—to a dark and gloomy world.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Jaime

 

P.S. – Our team is taking off the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, so we are taking a break from posting next week. We will resume our normal posting schedule starting January 2^nd.