ponder | light
this advent season, i have been pondering the idea of Christ as light. as i listen to Handel's Messiah play in our home, as we read scriptures foretelling of Christ's coming, as we engage in hymnody, i am struck afresh by the light of our Savior. in every household that celebrates Christmas and in every store that sells to Christmas shoppers, there is light. homes and malls and town squares are decorated inside and out with blinking bulbs and extravagant displays of electric wonder. we celebrate the advent season by the lighting of candles. we burn yule logs. light is joyful. and it is no surprise that we celebrate the birth of Christ with all things light. the study of light has occupied the greatest minds that humanity has known. studies explain much, but it also leaves us wondering - wanting more. for every fact we understand about the nature of light, there are hundred more that we cannot hope to comprehend. to know about light is to know a little about what God is like, as light is the symbol the Bible uses to describe Him.
God showed himself to Moses in a burning bush. He led the Israelites through the desert by a pillar of fire. the apostle Paul found his Savior in a blinding flash of light. Christ's birth was announced by angels in ta glory of light, and the wise men followed the light of a star. God is light. He uses the refracted light of a rainbow to show His promises. He uses the light of the sun to energize our planet. "in Him we live and move and have our being."
the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
isaiah 9:2
the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
matthew 4:16
the natal star bursting forth to signal a birth that would change eternity. the star that shone to light the way to the humble manger. this remarkable celestial sight was a mere glimpse into the glory of Christ's luminosity.
it isn't just that He is bright. He is all things LIGHT. in every sense of the word. noun. verb. adjective.
the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
He is illuminating. making clear the path of truth. revealing right and beauty. lifting the fog from our minds and allowing us to see clearly. shining. gleaming. radiant. lustrous. glowing. dazzling. luminous.
understanding of a problem or mystery.
His word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. He lifts our heads. He lifts the veil. He buoys us. He enlightens. gives wisdom and discernment. shows us truth and reveals meaning.
provide with light or lighting; illuminate.
He brightens. He is brilliant. making things shine. giving splendor. making colors more vivid. His marvelous light swallows up darkness and death and makes things radiant and alive. He is all things resplendent.
make something start burning; ignite.
He is the eternal spark. He kindles the fire of salvation in our hearts. He is incandescent. warming hearts. He is an all-consuming fire and sets things ablaze. He dwells in inapproachable light. too awesome for our frail humanity to behold at full power. He is the fragrant incense that burns in the temple and sends holy smoke to the Most High. our perfect offering.
having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark.
He is the opposite of dark. dark shall have no place in Him. every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no ficklenss, neither shadow of turning. He is the bright dawn, lifting the night. removing sleep from our eyes. making us come awake.
of little weight; easy to lift.
He lightens our load. He carries our burdens, and His burden is light.
a person notable or eminent in a particular sphere of activity or place.
He is the ultimate luminary. the most important figure in past, present, and future. all-in-all. everything. son of the Lord of Hosts. the Ancient of Days.
Soli Deo Gloria.