The Light That Shines in the Darkness
The Light That Shines in the Darkness by Rev. L. John Gable
December 18, 2022
It was a windy, dusty night. Not that such was unusual; wind and dust are the defining features of this small, mid-western town and of the wide, flat land that surrounds it. But just at dusk on this night the wind had shifted from the west to the northeast and a choking cloud of a dust bowl had obliterated the differences between ground and sky making it nearly impossible to see.
The boy should not have been out. His parents would have forbidden it, but he had been at a pre-Christmas party at the Methodist church after school, and the storm had caught him and many others by surprise. The pastor would have urged him to stay until rides could be arranged, or the storm let up, but the boy, headstrong as he was thoughtless, had simply left. He knew the direction home and there was no reason he should get lost. It was, after all, only a small town and he had lived there for nearly half of his ten years. But, if you’ve ever been caught in a dust storm you know how completely disorienting it can be.
The boy knew the way, but after a while the way wasn’t where he thought it would be. The street should have led him from the church to the school, then to a cow path which would take him home. But after stumbling into a ditch and getting himself turned around, he didn’t know where he was. He had counted on the lights in the windows of his family’s modest house to guide him, but the shades had been drawn against the relentless infiltration of blowing dirt. Suddenly he found himself lost, and alone, in the dust, in the dark and he didn’t know what to do.
Then he saw the star. It was not the Bethlehem star. It wasn’t even a star in the sky. It was an electric dime store star that had been part of his mother’s Christmas decorations for as many years as he could remember. He had never thought anything much of it before, but there it was, rising and falling in the dust, twinkling in the dark. The light from that cheap little star shined in the darkness and he followed it home.
Throughout the narrative of Scripture we hear the promise of the light of God breaking in to the darkness of our world and calling us home, a promise which finds its completion and fulfillment in the coming of the Christ child.
We read first from the book of Numbers, so early in Israel’s faith journey, the prophecy of one named Balaam, such an unusual spokesman for God. Balaam was a Mesopotamian diviner, not even a believer in the God of Israel, yet he spoke a truth about the coming of God’s anointed One. “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near- a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Balaam’s prophecy pointed to the rise of the monarchy under King David, then beyond to the Messiah King who would come in his name.
Later still, the prophet Isaiah would continue this prophecy with a more specific vision, as he announces, “The people who walked in darkness have seen as great light, those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them the light has shined…for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” (Isaiah 9:2,6)
In the fullness of time, the morning star was born and God came to us in such an unlikely manner, as a child, born of Mary, named Jesus. And it is not insignificant or inconsequential that God marked this birth not only with angel choruses, but also with the vision of a star which led the Magi and others to the place of His holy birth, and we, like them, are called to be LED to that light.
As we continue through the narrative of Scripture, we turn to the first letter of John and hear this bold proclamation. “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5).
Think for a moment of all the different images used in Scripture to describe the character of God: truth, love, life. The most vivid of these is that “God is light.” For centuries the contrast between light and darkness has been used in literature and theater and religion to illustrate the great cosmic battle between good and evil, truth and falsehood, God and the Adversary. Though it defies precise definition, even the youngest of children can use their imaginations to understand the truth of this basic message: God is light.
But we are called not simply to be LED to the light, but to embrace and WALK in the light. We read on in First John, “Let us walk in the light as God is in the light and we will have fellowship with one another and the forgiveness of our sins” (I John 1:7). This is both the great invitation and the great expectation of the Christian faith. It is not enough simply to be drawn to the light, like insects to a burning bulb, we are called to the continuous action of WALKING in the light because God is light.
To speak of God in this way is to say that the God we worship is pure, holy, righteous and just. In Him there is no flaw or imperfection, no unholiness or unrighteousness, no sin, no brokenness, no disharmony. In Him is nothing evil or false, because “God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5).
This is the glorious proclamation of our Christmas faith. When John penned his Gospel he didn’t begin by telling of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, rather he announces that “the light that shines in the darkness which the darkness does not overcome; the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world”. (John 1:5,9). In the birth of Jesus God made good on all the promises and prophecies of the ages, as He pierced our darkness with the glory of His light and love. We who have heard this Good News are now called to live as “children of light” (Luke 16:8), bearing the “armor of light” (Romans 13:12) and producing the “fruit of the light” (Ephesians 5:9), as we continue to “walk in the light.” Just as Jesus says of Himself, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), so He says to us, His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14)
To WALK in the light means to imitate and reflect the character of God. It is to allow our lives to be ordered by the truth of God’s Word, to learn of God’s ways and follow in His paths. It is to accept His instruction and submit to His judgement and Lordship. To walk in the light is to allow the light of God’s love to illumine all the dark and hidden places of our hearts and lives. Admittedly this is a painful task, but it is the only way we can be set free from our bondage to sin and death. Jesus calls us to step out of our darkness in to His light. We read the familiar words in 1 John, “If we say we have fellowship with God while we walk in the darkness, we lie and do not do what is true, but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and are cleansed of our sin” (I John 1:6-7). Like a laser beam, it is by the searching, searing, light of Christ that we are opened to His healing forgiveness and are restored into a right relationship with God and one another.
We are called to be LED to the light and to WALK in the light, so that we can then live as BEARERS and REFLECTORS of God’s light into our darkened world.
One evening, an American tourist happened upon a small parish church while traveling through a rural part of Germany. The notice on the door said that there were to be vespers services that evening, so he decided to stay. As the appointed hour arrived, no worshippers were there and the chapel was dark, so he thought perhaps the service had been cancelled. As he prepared to leave, he noticed a small flicker of light coming up the path from one direction, then still others from other directions, all heading toward the small chapel on the hill. Soon, dozens of worshippers filled the tiny sanctuary and the lanterns they carried filled the place with light, as each was hung on hooks lining the walls.
After the service, a long time member greeted the visitor and said, “You may think it strange that we do this in this day and age, but I love this tradition. When this parish was founded long ago, the people were too poor to purchase candles for vespers, so each member was instructed to bring their own lantern to light the sanctuary. Of course, we can afford lights now, but we’ve been doing it this way for 300 years, and none of us wants to give up the tradition. Now, when even one of our members is not here, we can honestly say, we missed your light and we were diminished.”
Friends, the same truth can be said of you and me. As a church, we are diminished when even one of us is not here, lifting our voices, sharing our gifts, offering our prayers, enlivening our fellowship. But even more importantly, the world is a darker place when even one of us does not reflect the light of God’s grace and glory. You and I are called to be bearers of Christ’s light today. So let your light shine.
During this season of Advent we light candles to remind us that God’s light has pierced our darkness, the darkness of our world, the darkness of our hearts. The message of Christmas is this, “The true light which enlightens everyone has come into the world”, through the birth of Jesus, the Child of Bethlehem, the promised Messiah, the One we worship as Savior and Lord, the One who is called the light of the world.
Like a dime store star shining in a dust storm, or a lantern carried up the path to illumine the church, God’s light continues to shine in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. So, let us be LED t the light and WALK in the light, and so commit ourselves to live as REFLECTORS of God’s light in our darkened world.
Rev. L. John Gable
Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
Indianapolis, IN