It's Got to Be Dark to Shine!

Recently someone gave to me as a gift the “As Seen on TV Star Shower Laser Light” to help me decorate the outside of our house for Christmas.  The way it lights up a house or tree is pretty incredible. From a distance it can look as if one has placed hundreds of little lights on a huge tree or all across the front of a house. Instead it is just one device projecting its laser beams of red and green.  It does look pretty awesome. 

But there is one catch with the Star Shower Laser Light: it must be dark for it to turn on (it is photosensitive). And, the darker it is the better the lights are seen.  Initially, I had the laser lights projected against our house, but the lights I have on the bushes and the spot I have on our wreath caused the laser lights to appear washed out.  So, last night I changed the placement of the device to now project on a couple of the trees on the other side of the front yard, where it is much darker. With the deeper darkness, the lights appear so much brighter and more vibrant.  The darkness helped the light shine so much better. 

I’m reminded that the Christmas season is ultimately about light shining into darkness.  And in fact, the darker it is the brighter the light is able to shine.  The Christmas story is about the light of God breaking into the darkness of our world through the person of his Son, Jesus Christ.  If there had been no darkness, there would have been no need for Jesus to have come.  After all, it’s got to be dark for the light to shine!

The prophet wrote, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2 – NIV) Then many years later, the Apostle John wrote, “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….The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John 1:4-5, 9 – NIV)

I know that our world is feeling increasingly dark.  The recent events of just the past few weeks—e.g. the shootings in Paris, Colorado Springs, and San Bernardino—remind us of just how dark our world is.  We see poverty, injustice, and war across our globe. On a more personal level, every day people (including ourselves) face sickness in their bodies, the breakdown of their families, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a jobs, etc.  Our world can seem like a very dark place.  But, the good news is that the birth of Jesus was the coming of light into that darkness.  And in the end, the greater the darkness the brighter the light will shine! 

O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!

Above your deep and dreamless sleep, The silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light,

The hopes and fears of all the years, Are met in thee tonight.

(Phillips Brooks)

Let’s not give up hope. Rather, during this Christmas season let’s allow the light of Jesus to shine brightly.  After all, it’s got to be dark to shine! 

Have a great day! 

Pastor Tim Harris