“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
When such a light shines nothing escapes its searching and penetrating power. A man who tried to escape God’s searching eyes wrote: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Yes, like a powerful searchlight that spots out people hiding in the darkness, God’s light can easily search us out.
Surely, the light shone to make us aware of what makes us stumble in the dark. Therefore Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Thus the Christmas story is about the light of God shining in the darkness of human life!
But the purpose of this shining light is not to condemn. This is a most comforting thought. No on needs to doubt; God’s light shines not to condemn, but to save. As Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Finally, this light is a compassionate light for he is described as the sun of righteousness which rises with healing in its wings. Light will shine seven times brighter when God “binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.”
Therefore cheer up. The night passes. Darkness flees. The time of sorrow will give way when the bright Morning Star rises in your heart. Surely, those who hope in God will not be disappointed!
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Bible quotes from: Isaiah 9:2; Psalm 139:11, 12; John 8:12; John 3:17; Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2); Isaiah 30:26; the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16), hope in God (Isaiah 49:23).