One of my favorite things about writing Truth in the Tinsel was discovering (or perhaps, re-discovering) all the “light” references in the Christmas story.
Day 1 of the book focuses on Isaiah 9:2-7,
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
The world was filled with darkness. But God promised a light. A Light.
Later on (Day 8 in the book), we read Luke 1:57-80. In which Zechariah prophesies after his son’s birth. He says that his son, John (the Baptist) will prepare the way for Messiah, the anointed one,
“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation, through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (verses 76-79)
Do you see? More light! Jesus is the rising sun that will shine on those living in darkness, in the shadow of death!
After Jesus is born, he is taken to the temple as was their custom. In Luke 2:21-40 a man named Simeon who had been waiting on the Messiah said this as he blessed Jesus,
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismissyour servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
A light for revelation to the Gentles! LIGHT!
And of course, we know in John 12:46 Jesus himself says,
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
When I was writing the ebook and saw all of this in order, it was just so big and clear to me. Jesus is the Light of the world. And not just that–we live and breathe darkness. Our world and our hearts are full of darkness. Jesus came to dispel that darkness. It made me that much more excited about the book–I wanted to share that Light with others!
Today in church, the sermon title was, “Let There Be Light” and the pastor brought up two more awesome examples of Jesus as the light. One starts at the very beginning,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.”
Imagine that pre-creation darkness. That pre-sun, pre-moon, pre-star darkness. It’s like nothing we can even comprehend. Nothing I want to experience, honestly. This is the physical example of what God would do thousands of years later. What he planned before Genesis 1:1, to separate the true darkness by saying, “Let there be light!” Let there be Jesus! Let there be salvation!
And how did He announce that salvation to the world? With a light! A star! A bright star that had people following it from around the world!
When I sat down in the service today and saw the title of the message, I said, “This is Truth in the Tinsel!” This is what God taught me through this ebook and the facebook page. That Jesus is Light. I live in darkness. My flesh desires darkness. But Jesus. Oh, Jesus came to earth as a pinprick of light. A light that would soon take over the whole world. That would alter December with dead trees in our homes, red and green blinking lights and beautifully wrapped presents. He would alter kingdoms and countries and empires. He would alter people and homes and hearts.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5)
May your Christmas this year be merry, yes, but most of all, may it be BRIGHT with the Light of Jesus!
The 1st Day of Creation
“The earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And The Spirit of GOD moved upon the face of the waters.”
Then GOD spoke HIS Word into being…….
“Let there be Light”!
And:
“There was Light”…….
And such ‘Light’ was to be, and is, Eternal!
So Hope is Alive!
“And GOD called The Light Day, and the darkness HE called night. And the evening and The Morning were The 1st Day.”
Even though this wicked world begins and ends it’s day in darkness it is good to realize that the 1st Day of Creation, although begun midst darkness, ended in ‘Light’!
And such ‘Light’ was not the sun, moon or stars for they were not created until the 4th Day.
GOD’s Word “Let there be Light” became “The Light which enlightens every man born into the world” and was “the glory The Messiah had with Our Father before the world began”…….
LIGHT Begot Light…….
LIKE Begot Like…….
The Messiah, “The Light of the world”(Jn8:12)…….
The Messiah, “The beginning of The Creation of GOD”(Rev1:1, 3:14)…….
The Messiah, “The Son of The Living GOD”…….
And Our Father, HE “created all things” by(of, in and thru) The Messiah” (Ep3:9)…….
“Let There Be Light!”
The 1st Day of Creation!
Now if the beginning can not be ‘seen’ nor understood, then what of the end?
Confusion would reign!
And today confusion does reign midst the multitudes of religious systems, all of which are of this world, for apart from “The Light” there is only darkness, “the blind leading the blind” ;-(
Sadly multiplied millions have been killed and enslaved by those members of this, or that religion, in the name of their god(s)!
But one reason why “The Way of Truth is evil spoken of”…….
“Come Out of her, MY people!”
“Come Out!” of the systems of this wicked, evil world(babylon), and especially it’s systems of religion…….
For the Faithful will not create a religion for the Faithful ARE Family!
The Family of “Our GOD and Father”, “of WHOM the whole Family in Heaven and ON EARTH is named”…….
So it is that the brethren of The Messiah are but “aliens and pilgrims while on the earth”, for our “conversation(Life) is in Heaven” and soon, and very soon, we will be taken Home, Home at last!
Till then:
Father Help! and HE does…….
asimpleandspirituallife.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Simple-and-Spiritual-Life/208339295850609
Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this world and it’s systems of religion “for the WHOLE(not just a portion) world is under the control of the evil one”(1JN5:19) indeed and Truth…….
The correlation of John 1 and Genesis 1 really hit me on our first day of Truth in Tinsel! We see Christology and types of Christ and references to His ministry throughout the Old Testament stories, but to think it was there – a picture of His coming mission at the very creation of the world – is pretty awesome.
I just wanted to tell you that I loved doing Truth in the Tinsel with my kids, it was amazing to see what they learned. I blogged a little about it if you are interested. http://shawnahaak.blogspot.com/2012/01/our-advent-and-what-i-learned.html