The Light Shines in the Darkness

I can’t think of one person that’s told me that they love the shorter days and longer nights that we experience at this time of year. But one of the benefits of having shorter days is that we get to turn the Christmas lights on sooner. I love Christmas lights! I love seeing houses lit up with all sorts of colour, bringing joy and beauty to this physically dark time of year. I say “physically dark” because this really is one of the spiritually brightest times of the year, especially for Christians. And the Christmas lights are just one more reminder that we have much to celebrate and be thankful for.

In the opening verses of John’s Gospel, he says of Jesus, “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).  Later on he says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (John 3:19-21).

This coming Sunday marks the first Sunday of advent, the Sunday of Hope. It’s a time to look forward and to prepare for the Christmas celebration, but also to anticipate when the true light of the world will return once again. It is hope for today, and bright hope for tomorrow, because the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot, and will not, overcome it! If you’d like to do some reading to help you prepare for our Sunday gathering, read through Isaiah 8:19-9:7, as well as the first chapter of John. Hope to see you there.

Pastor Mike