In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-14
A little light makes all the difference in the world. Every young boy wants to be a helper to his dad. I was no different, and my job as my dad’s helper was to hold the flashlight on what he was working on. Whether the job was repairing the car or the furnace, I was responsible for holding the flashlight on what he was doing. Sometimes, I would get distracted and the light would wander away from the project unto the wall and he was unable to turn the wrench or the screwdriver simply because he couldn’t see it. So, a little light on the project makes all the difference in the world.
So too is it with us; a little light makes all the difference in the world. Just as a little light makes all the difference when one is attempting to turn a bolt or screw in the dark; a little light makes all the difference in the world when one is coping with all the difficult burdens of life. Light brings clarity in a time of confusion or uncertainty. Light brings hope in a time of sadness or despair. Light brings truth in a time of error or ignorance. Light brings compassion in a time of need or want. Having to live in a world of darkness, a little light makes all the difference in the world.
The good news for us is that as the man Jesus of Nazareth, the light of God has come into the world to enlighten the dark times and places. In the prologue to John’s Gospel, the author speaks of how the very Word of God which created and sustains all of creation was coming into the world to bring life and light to the world full of death and darkness. As the man Jesus of Nazareth, the Word was made flesh and lived among us full of Grace and Truth. As Jesus Christ, the Light of God shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. The good news for us is that God gives of himself to make all the difference in the world.
Which of us during the course of our lives doesn’t find ourselves in dark times and in dark places? Most certainly, we all have been and will be in times of confusion and uncertainty needing clarity. We all have been and will be in times of sadness and despair needing hope. We all have been and will be in times of error or ignorance needing truth. We all have been and will be in times of need and want needing compassion. We all have been and will be in times and places of great darkness. The good news for us is that God does not leave us there. As the man Jesus of Nazareth, the light of God enters into our dark times and places, to bring clarity, hope, truth, and compassion to us. The good news for us is that as Jesus Christ, God finds us wherever we are and in whatever condition we are in to bring light and love to our darkness. Such is the love and care of God for us.
If this be the love and care of God for us, then perhaps now is the time and here is the place for us to admit to ourselves that we are in darkness needing light? If this be the love and care of God for us, then perhaps now is the time and here is the place for us to acknowledge to ourselves that we are creatures living in darkness needing the Creator’s light? If this be the love and care of God for us, then perhaps now is the time and here is the place for us to recognize our deficiencies needing the Maker’s filling? If this be the work and will of God the Father for us that the Word would become flesh to enlighten the ones living in darkness; then maybe now is the time and here is the place for us to tell ourselves we need to be found by this God, in faith?
Since a little light makes all the difference in the world, let us remember the good news whenever we find ourselves in those dark times and dark places, as we surely will and maybe are right now. As the man Jesus Christ, the Light of God came into the world to enlighten the ones living in that darkness. Since this is the love and care of God for us, let us put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and be found by the Light and Life of God. On behalf of everyone associated with Trinity and Eastside Presbyterian Churches in Ashtabula, Ohio, I pray the Light of God finds you and your family this Christmas season and every time you find yourselves in those dark times and dark places of life.
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