His Light at Christmas (Part 3: Being Plugged In To His Power!)

In the first two posts of this mini-series, His Light at Christmas, we have looked at different aspects of how Christmas lights may stand as a metaphor for our life and work as the church, a community of ambassadors for Christ.

Part 1: Being Lights For His Glory—In response to his light…

·         We Should Be Visible Lights

·         We Should Be Unblinking Lights

Part 2: Being Conformed to His Image—In response to his likeness…

·         We Should Shine as Attractive Lights, Not as an Obnoxious Glare

·         We Should Shine Together as Different Colored Lights in Harmony

This week we will finish our series, in response to his commission, by considering the source of our light, the power we need to be effective witnesses in a dark world.

We are His Line—Being Plugged Into His Power!

God not only created us, and currently sustains us as part of his creation, but he has made us his children through Christ (John 1). We who were once not his people (1 Peter 2:10) have been made family and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

Christmas Lights Need To Be Plugged Into A Power Source

Scripture says that Jesus is "upholding all things by the word of His power." Further, Isaiah 8:20 says that if we are not plugged into the Word of God, there is no light in us. We don't have the power to shine as lights unless we are plugged in. Our power is found in His Word, as made alive in our hearts by His Spirit.

In Part 2 of The Hobbit trilogy of movies, The Desolation of Smaug, the evil one (Sauron) says to Gandalf the wizard, “There is no light that can defeat the dark!” Just as that line is actually not in Tolkien’s book, it is not in the Bible either. The darkness has not overcome the light of Christ (John 1:5) which enlightens everyone (John 1:9). While it is true that some will choose the darkness over the revealing character of Jesus’ light (John 3:20), all who believe in Christ are no longer bound by darkness (John 12:46)!

The light of God’s glory will uphold us if we hold onto it. It will not only brighten the room, and lift our mood, but it changes the world—one act of justice at a time. Isaiah 58:8-12 proclaims,

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun‑scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well‑watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age‑old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

Christmas Lights Come In Strings

Not only do we need to acknowledge our power source, but also the fact that we are not solitary lights. We have not been redeemed to work alone; rather, we are put into a wonderful string of lights called the Church. 1 John 1:7 says, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin."

If we are walking in the light, we have fellowship with one another. That means "a sharing in common." But what do we all have in common? What binds a diverse and dissimilar group of people together? The message (light) and the Master (power source) are not the only common elements. Our mission is one of restoring community! We are blood-bought, and adopted sons who call God our Father (Romans 8:15). We are part of one family!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path… The entrance of Thy word gives light . . ." (Psalm 119:105)

Christmas Lights Are Meant To Be Strung

Strings of lights were not made to be plugged in and left in one big clump, they look much better when they are strung on the tree or the house.

Remember how Jesus told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they received power from on high (Acts 1:8)? They obeyed this "plugged-in" part of the command well but failed the "being strung" part of the mission where they were supposed to leave Jerusalem to take the message to Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth until Saul’s persecution was unleashed in Acts 7 and they were forced "out of the package". Is it possible that we too have dwelt too long in sight of Jerusalem, and are too comfortable in our warm close-knit little bundle of Christmas lights? It is time for us to venture out into the dark cold winter and do what we have been empowered to do…shine the love of God in the community of the saints while engaging our cultures for Christ!

We share Christ, and we share the product of Christ working in and through us—light to a darkened world! It is the spiritual light that brings forth spiritual fruit just as the sun brings forth natural fruit. Let's shine forth His light as a glorious, unblinking, multi-colored, plugged-in string of holy Christmas lights on a mission this year. The eyewitnesses' account in Scripture is clear. May our witness be clear as well, so that we might bear fruit unto God's glory. 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing... If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:5,7,8)

            Merry Christmas! From one part of his string to another!

Christmas Carol: “I Cannot Tell”

I cannot tell why He whom angels worship,

Should set His love upon the sons of men,

Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,

To bring them back, they know not how or when.

But this I know, that He was born of Mary

When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,

And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,

And so the Savior, Savior of the world is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered,

As with His peace He graced this place of tears,

Or how His heart upon the cross was broken,

The crown of pain to three and thirty years.

But this I know, He heals the brokenhearted,

And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,

And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,

For yet the Savior, Savior of the world is here.

I cannot tell how He will win the nations,

How He will claim His earthly heritage,

How satisfy the needs and aspirations

Of East and West, of sinner and of sage.

But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,

And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,

And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor

When He the Savior, Savior of the world is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,

When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,

Or who can say how great the jubilation

When all the hearts of men with love are filled.

But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,

And myriad, myriad human voices sing,

And earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, will answer:

At last the Savior, Savior of the world is King!

By William Young Fullerton (1857-1932) set to the Irish folk tune Londonderry Air.