His Light at Christmas (Part 2: Being Conformed To His Image!)

In our last post, we talked about how we, in response to Christ's Light-- are to be visible and unblinking lights for his glory. In this, we will continue to consider how we may do this.

In Response to His Likeness— We Are Being Conformed To His Image!

As we continue to consider Hebrews 1:3, building on the outshining of the glory of God in Jesus, and our Being Lights For His Glory we focus on the phrase, that Jesus is “the exact imprint of his nature” (ESV). Leon Morris commented,

"The exact representation of his being" is the fourth of the statements about the Son. "Exact representation" translates charakter, a very unusual word (here only in the NT). Originally it denoted an instrument for engraving and then a mark stamped on that instrument. Hence it came to be used generally of a mark stamped on a thing, the impress of a die. It might be used figuratively, for example, of God as making man in his own image (1 Clement 33:4). In its literal sense it was used of the impression on coins; RSV's "bears the very stamp of his nature" brings out something of this meaning. Here the writer is saying that the Son is an exact representation of God.[1]

Since Jesus is the express image of God’s person that means that when we wonder what God is like we can look at Jesus who accurately reveals the nature of God. Similarly, Colossians 1:15, 19 says that “He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation… For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…”

He was made like us in every way so that he could take our sin upon himself (Hebrews 2:14-18) and we could receive his righteousness, becoming like him. As a result, we should be continually more conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) and to His way of shining light to the lost and to each other.

As a small child, putting up the Christmas decorations was really quite easy. I simply watched my Dad do everything and tried to stay out of his way. I have since learned that, as an adult, putting up the lights is not necessarily easy. I remember one sad year which came after my Dad had left our family, and I had to put up our Christmas lights by myself. I remember going out in the December rain, lying down on our cold wet roof, and hanging out over the edge to put up our outdoor lights. I confess to muttering. Then the Christmas tree that was dropped off had a trunk that was too big to fit into our stand and I didn't have any adequate tools to cut and mount it. I confess to growling a bit. Finally, after getting the Christmas tree in the stand and into the house, I found that the tree lights were severely tangled. After hearing a neighbor’s politically incorrect comment about my Christmas decorating skills... I confess to steaming. No wonder I stayed out of the way in previous years while my Dad was putting the lights up! I eventually had to kneel down behind an old wingback chair, right there in our living room, and seek a spiritual "attitude adjustment." For Scripture says,

"Do all thi­ngs without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of Life . . ." (Philippians 2:14-16)

Because we are to shine in his likeness, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how we are to shine.

We Should Shine as Attractive Lights, Not an Obnoxious Glare

The light we shine needs to be tasteful and courteous, rather than rude and overbearing. I think of the classic Charlie Brown Christmas special where both kinds of lights are seen. Snoopy's obnoxiously decorated doghouse contrasts sharply with the humble little tree that the whole Peanuts gang helped to decorate (after hearing Linus quote the Christmas story as found in Luke 2). The world is dying and needs us to shine as Jesus did, not in a loud, tacky, rude, uncaring manner, but in a simple, sincere, spiritual way. We can read in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 about how we should shine to the world.

"And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

Our light should gently, consistently, beckon people home, as warm and invitational as the light to which we once responded. The Lord is kind in all his ways. People shouldn’t have to rent a family for the holidays when there is one really big one ready for them through the work of Christ.

The saying that “the Holy Spirit is a gentleman," falls so far short that it makes me cringe. However, we do well to recognize that though often perceptive and bold, truly Spirit-filled witnessing (light-shining) is never rude or pushy, but courteous and gently persistent, centered around a sincere and reconciling relationship. 

We Should Shine Together as Different Colored Lights in Harmony
 

His likeness, as expressed in the Church, is not limited homogenously to a specific ethnicity or culture, nor style or method, as many different parts make up the body of Christ. We are all different and the "colors" of our lights vary (yet all the colors are still light), and we all look good together. Opinion alert: I am not a fan of plain white Christmas lights. While the icicle lights can look good on a house, or a star, if the whole neighborhood is white it tends to make it look cold and sterile. At the same time, the newer LED lights—while beautifully colored—often seem so dark and missing the warmer tones that really brighten the yard and neighborhood. (I still rock the traditional multi-color C-9 bulbs on the house. I am dogmatic about my lights, stressing that those mono-chromatic or even two-color strings of lights are boring and less than beautiful.)

Thankfully, the idea is spreading that the local church should look like their community—reflecting the multi-ethnic and multi-economic make-up of their area—in both their members and leadership. To the extent that we do this, we not only more completely reflect the image of God, but the character of his [one] heavenly kingdom,

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
 and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
 from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
 and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-19)

Not only are we to embrace the various ethnic and cultural colors of our origins as expressing a facet of his likeness, but we also need to be enthusiastic in our varieties of operation as well. If we understand the nature of the Church, we realize we don't have to require others to shine exactly as we do. As long as we give off His light in His likeness as He chooses to use us, together we are on the right path. In Romans 12:4-8, Paul talks about the different “colors” that we as individual members of the body of Christ shine forth. It is written,

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

Similarly, we can read in 1 Corinthians 12:4-21, that the body consists of all the parts together. The church is not the church if it is missing someone.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another, the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

Let’s shine this Christmas, and in the New Year to come, with his likeness bringing a glow to our life, a smile to our eyes, and a song to our lips!

Angels from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o’er all the earth;

Ye who sang creation’s story

Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field, abiding,

Watching o’er your flocks by night,

God with us is now residing;

Yonder shines the infant light:

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations,

Brighter visions beam afar;

Seek the great Desire of nations;

Ye have seen His natal star.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Saints, before the altar bending,

Watching long in hope and fear;

Suddenly the Lord, descending,

In His temple shall appear.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sinners wrung with true repentance,

Doomed for guilt to endless pains,

Justice now revokes the sentence,

Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Though an Infant now we view Him,

He shall fill His Father’s throne,

Gather all the nations to Him;

Every knee shall then bow down:

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

All creation, join in praising

God, the Father, Spirit, Son,

Evermore your voices raising

To th’ eternal Three in One.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

                    Hymn Angels From the Realm of Glory, by James Montgomery (1816)

 

It is a wonderful truth that God uses us in personal and individually appropriate ways. As we allow the gospel light to shine through us in evangelism and service, we wisely acknowledge our inability to shine with our own power. We need a power source. We testify to the fact that we are plugged into the power source.

Next Post: His Light at Christmas (Part 3: Being Plugged Into His Power)

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[1] (Frank E. Gaebelein, Edt., Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 12, [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981], 14)