Light

During this season of Hanukkah and Christmas, we express a spiritual truth using lights. Hanukah is called the Feast of Lights, or the Feast of Dedication, and a menorah is lighted each night for eight nights, to celebrate the fact that the LORD extended the oil needed to keep the Lamp of the Temple lit beyond the one-day supply of oil that was on hand. As that Feast is observed today, the menorah is placed in a window, so the light of it can be seen by others.
The command of the LORD to Moses generations before regarding that Lamp in the Holy Place was that its lights should remain lighted continually:
"And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn (ascend) continually...Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel."   Ex. 27:20-21
Our celebration of Christmas, the birth of our Savior and Messiah, Jesus, is also filled with lights. We cover our homes, trees, bushes, and anything that stands still long enough, with lights.
The quality and power of light cannot be separated from God:
"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."     1 Jn. 1:5
It is His first act of creation in Gen. 1. The darkness that had entombed the earth, before the command of light was given, was total, and so deep and thick, it was like the darkness at the bottom of a pit, or an abyss. The light of God, contained in the power of His word, broke through the darkness, and light and dark were separated, even severed. When He spoke "light", it was not just natural light. By meaning of the word, "or", it is the light of day, the light of a lamp, the light of life, the light of prosperity, the light of instruction, the light of a face. In this case, the light of the face of God.
The importance of the light of God is revealed in His word:
"For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness."    2 Sam. 22:29
The light of the LORD is His quality of righteousness and salvation:
"For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake, I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns."
                                                                                                              Isa. 62:1
The Biblical prophecies of the birth of Jesus, and the description of His purpose and power, are very much tied into the lamp, and light of His Father:
"...By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined."    Isa. 9:2, Mt. 4:15-16, Lk. 1:79, Lk. 2:32
The light of a star gave revelation of Him, and showed the way to His presence in the manger, the place where God touched the earth in the form of a baby. (Num. 24:17, Mt. 2:2).
The light quality of Jesus' life was told in John:
"In Him was life, and the light was the life of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (seize, overcome, overtake) it...That was the true light, which gives light to every man coming into the world."   Jn. 1:4,5,9
Jesus identifies Himself as the Light:
"...I am the light of the world. He who follows Me, shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life...As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."   Jn. 8:12, 9:5.
However, He didn't come to keep the light of God to Himself only, but to manifest it through men. He redefined those who would follow Him, and revealed to them God's great purpose in them:
"You are the light of the world. A  city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven."
                                                                                          Mt. 5:14, 16
Apostle Paul tells us this same thing beautifully:
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us."    2 Cor. 4:6-7
During this time in which we live, it seems that darkness is raising its prideful head as never before in the earth. More than ever, the light of the promise of our Christmas Savior, and the lamp of Hanukkah, need to shine forth to dispel that darkness. It shines forth through us, by the Living Word, and Spirit in us. Out of the thick darkness, the voices are crying out. If we stop and listen, we can hear them around us. It is the light of God through Christ in us that pushes back that darkness. We should not be fooled, frightened, nor overcome by the darkness. Even more so, we should SHINE!
"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."       Isa. 60:1-3
Hallelujah! Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah.

Our Father shines His saving, glory light through us.


"Mary, Did You Know?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

"Light A Candle"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K2ocj4BvUQ

"Go Light Your World"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsM5lt9tCFo