Beautiful Lights

A wonderful part of the Christmas season is all of the beautiful lights that decorate houses throughout many different neighborhoods. We enjoy driving around and seeing how each house has chosen to light up. You usually get a sense of where the best light displays are. Many cities even have areas that the homeowners all agree, and even contract, to decorate. These neighborhoods become areas that may have long lines of vehicles and walkers alike enjoying the beauty.

Nature has its own impressive display of lights that far exceeds the beauty of anything man-made. It is the aurora borealis, or Northern lights. Having never been to Alaska, or anywhere that far north, my personal experience consists of only watching videos taken of them. I have also spoken to people who have been blessed to see them for themselves. Breathtaking, amazing and beyond beautiful are some of the descriptions I have heard.  “They don’t seem real!”

As beautiful as these lights are, they cannot compare to what heaven must be like.  As I consider what Scripture says about the new heaven and the new earth, I wonder just what beauty awaits us.  Just what it will be like to take in all the sights and sounds and experience that amazing light? Here and now, I enjoy seeking the beauty in my everyday life and surroundings. But there are days I find myself longing the light that is yet to come.

As Christmas Eve approaches, we set aside time to consider the birth of Jesus Christ.  This year I have a new perspective of a promise of God.  ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17 ESV) I always saw that as answers to prayers. But the greatest prayer need was answered before I even was born. Jesus, in the form of a human baby, is that perfect gift coming down from those gorgeous heavenly lights. He comes from God to bring us back to God.  The Father of lights sent us the very best. 

Not only is Jesus the gift that came from light, but He is the light. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8:12 ESV)  God sent His son to be born in a lowly, Bethlehem stable.  He came in the darkness of that night to a world that was living in darkness. Through Him we have the light of life; life eternal. 

We can keep that beautiful light in our hearts by following Him day by day.  In doing so, we become more and more like Him.  “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” (Psalm 34:5 ESV)  Not only will we enjoy the benefits of his light, we will begin to shine that same light. We are to be a reflection of Him. We will be radiant!

Jesus told those who would follow Him, ^“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 ESV)  Our good works are like the light displays we drive around to see.  Do the houses of our lives draw people to see and give glory to our heavenly Father?  Are we lit up all year round? 

So, this year, as you admire the pretty Christmas lights, think of them as a dim shadow of the true heavenly lights. Consider the perfect gift that came down to a Bethlehem stable that night. And allow Him to fill you with His radiance, as your heart soaks in His presence in your own life.  How will you decorate your life this year?