Recently, I've been thinking about the importance of light to every living thing. All of life depends upon light! Light is essential to life. Even the creatures that are hidden in the deepest recesses of the earth depend upon the life that exists above ground; life that could not be a source of life to other living things if light were hidden from view.Light illumines. On a dark night, one can't see the colors in the landscape. All is clothed in shades of blackness. Even a small light on a dark night can give enough illumination so as to be a guide to one who needs to see.
The watercolor above was painted last December at Christmastime. It is a time of the year when we celebrate the "One true light that came to give light to all men". Without Him there is no real "life." He is my light and my salvation. He is the One who illumines my darkness. His word guides me. All that is good and lovely and right is dependent upon His light!
There are close to 150 passages in the Bible that refer to light as something that illumines, guides, gives truth, is connected to righteous and to God the Father and Jesus Christ, His only Son. On the very 1st day of creation, the 1st thing that God created was light. Light would be necessary for the living things that were soon to be created. Light is Significant to your very being! It is essential to your spiritual health and eternal life. Without the One true light, there is only death and darkness. As you go through this season, call on the One who gives light. Seek Him! Ask Him to show His light and His truth to you.
There are several great carols that we sing this time of the year which remind us of that great light. I would urge you to ponder on the meaning of the words to some of those carols as you sing them this season.
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (verse 3)
Hail the heave'n born Prince of Peace!
Hail the SUN of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healinbg in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.... (text by C. Wesley - tune by Mendelssohn)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (verse 1)
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The EVERLASTING LIGHT:
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.... (text by Phillips Brooks)
May His light be yours!
Merry Christmas!
~Ruth
