The Gift of Light

 “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined…. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”—Isaiah  9:2&6a

When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he invented a source of continuous light that would revolutionize the way people did things. There would be no more long nights reading by the light of a dim candle, no more groping around in the darkness, and no more having to refill the oil lamp. Light became better, brighter, and more long lasting, so to speak.  

 

Being born into a generation of electrical marvels, we might not value the usefulness and necessity of light. Without light, you are in darkness. Without light, your eyes are rendered inoperative and you can’t do a thing. Light is real. Without light, there are no colors. Without light, the brilliant sparkle of a diamond is hidden. Without light, dirt and grime dominate life. Without light, plants cannot live to produce fruit. Without light, you and I, my friend, are dead!

 

A greater Light than Edison’s invention came into this world at Christmas. The Light is a gift. Unlike light bulbs of all shapes and sizes that you pay for, this Light is free. He is a Gift, and like all other gifts, He is given. That is why Isaiah prophesied, “unto us a son is given.”  Because Jesus Christ, the Son, is given, He can be either accepted or rejected. The Son is not sold to us for a price, He is to be freely received. However, a price was involved. Jesus Christ was born to pay the price for our sins. The Son of God, is the Light of this world, who stepped down into darkness for all to see.

 

Irrespective of whether the given Light is accepted or rejected, He is the Light! And what a Light He is, “a great light,” says Isaiah. Those that lived in the land of the shadow of death, have seen that Light. When Jesus, in the flesh, walked through Zebulun and Naphtali, this prophecy was literally fulfilled, because the people of those cities saw this Great Light. We who have accepted Jesus, before we saw the light of His salvation, also walked in darkness: in the land of the shadow of death. We walked in Satan’s domain. But when we saw the Light—this Light that was given—then we accepted Him. Then we were translated from darkness into light (Colossians 1:12, 13). Now we no longer live in that land of darkness and death, because we have seen the Great Light.

 

Dear reader, have you seen the Light? The Light shines upon all. He shines upon you, and at some point, you can see Him. But there are many blindfolds in this world that might be over your eyes, and are stopping you from seeing the Light. Or even if you see the Light, you might be repulsed. Not repulsed by the Light, but by what He reveals! Light reveals imperfections, dirt, wrong doing and sin. Light reproves and motivates us to clean up. There are some however, who love to stay in darkness, because they are comfortable being dirty in sin. Will you receive the Light? If you receive Him, you will not only be translated from darkness into light, but you too will become a light. Just like a lit candle lights an unlit one, Jesus lights you up when you receive Him. Then we, like Him, become the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

 

In Jesus Christ, a Son has truly been given. And the gift of God’s light has truly been seen.

—Kenny Damara