CHRISTMAS – “LIGHT” AND “LIFE”

One of the recurring themes in the Bible is that of LIGHT and LIFE. It is such a powerful and meaningful way to communicate to the fallen world, all that is in God, and all who God is.
– “2 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 living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” – Matthew 4:16

The above two verses are referring the same thing at two different and distinct times. One was during the time of Isaiah. The other is during the time of Jesus. In fact, Jesus’ ministry is being compared to LIGHT, which dawns upon the people who are in darkness; and this LIGHT is the LIFE, that revives all who are living under the shadow of death. Oh was glorious blessing it is to have the LORD Jesus Christ in our lives! In Him we have both the LIGHT, and the LIFE. 
– “​1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” – John 1:1-4

Let us look closer at what the prophet Isaiah [Isaiah 9:2] and the apostle Matthew [Matthew 4:16] recorded for us in the Bible about LIGHT and LIFE.

1- “THE PEOPLE THAT WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT…”
Humans have been walking in darkness, ever since we sinned and rebelled against God our Creator, in the Garden of Eden. This darkness which we have invited, had dispossessed us of all our rights, our power, and has held us captives, ever since, making us slaves to evil and sin.

Jesus the Messiah, who is the very personification of LIGHT, had come into this world, to set us, the captives free, from the clutches sin, death and destruction.
– “18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” – Luke 4:18-19

2- “… THEY THAT DWELL IN THE LAND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM hath THE LIGHT SHINED.”
People who live under the shadow of death have no hope, and no future. This is the reality of such a life. They live in darkness, and death is constantly hanging over their heads. They are just waiting for their death, even as whatever little life they have had, is ebbing away slowly and steadily.

To such people as the above, that is, you, me, and all of us, the LORD Jesus had come to seek and save us, and give us life – life in abundance. Oh what glorious hope, and abundant life has come upon us – only because of the LORD Jesus Christ.
– “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10
– “12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” – John 8:12

If we notice Isaiah and Matthew, the Bible wants us to see a clear contrast being drawn. Can we see the contrast of LIGHT against DARKNESS; and LIFE against DEATH? Darkness and death are who we are, what we have, and what we are in. Darkness and death are our earnings, and our possessions. There is nothing to boast about, and about all what we have earned.
– “…for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” – Romans 3:22b-23
– “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

When we receive Jesus the Messiah as our Saviour, our lives are transformed from darkness into LIGHT, and from death to LIFE. When we continue to walk faithfully and obediently with the LORD Jesus, our LIGHT and our LIFE, we begin to shine brightly because Him, and for Him, in this dark world.
– “6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6
– “8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” – Ephesians 5:8
– “9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” – 1 Peter 2:9

What about us? What about LIGHT and LIFE in our lives? Are we walking in the LIGHT? Is LIFE flowing in and through us? May we be always, in our thoughts, words and deeds, the children of LIGHT, shining forth the LORD Jesus Christ. May LIFE that our LORD gives us, always flow through us. Even so, the LORD help us.