A Season of Hope

The Christmas season often begins with a flurry of lights, tree-trimming, shopping, and frantic housecleaning. The sweeping rush of it all hits me hardest during the first week or two of December, and I tend to find myself jumping into the busyness without taking time to pause and let my heart consider what the season’s preparations and activities are all about.

And when I do, I miss the point of it all, and end up frustrated, flustered, and full of anything but Christmas cheer.

As all-consuming as the preparations can be, we must remember that the Christmas season isn’t just a time of presents, decorations, and events. It is, first and foremost, a remembrance of hope.

This passage from Isaiah gives us a beautiful picture of the hope of which Christmas reminds us:

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (60:1-2)

Imagine the darkness of life before the cross: the long years of waiting, longing, hoping. Now think of the hope of the gospel, the hope of salvation, and the hope yet to be fulfilled of Christ’s return and eternity in His presence.

When we put up Christmas lights on or in our houses, we are setting up visual reminders of One in whom we hope—the Light of the World, who Himself is light. (1 John 1:5)

But in looking at those first two verses from Isaiah 60, I notice something more than just the joy of Christ’s coming: I notice what we are meant to do with His light.

“Arise, shine, for thy light is come…”

Christ called Himself the light of the world (John 8:12), but He also says that we are the light of the world. Because the light of Christ has come, we ourselves ought to shine. Philippians 2:14-15 puts it this way:

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”

As we remember hope, as we celebrate the light of Christ that came into the world, and into our hearts, we are to share that light with others, to shine it forth in word and deed. Christmas is a perfect opportunity to share the hope we have, the sure and certain hope that anchors our souls. (Hebrews 6:19)

But instead, we tend to fall into the same frantic pace and emotional struggles as the unsaved do. If we do not keep close to Christ during the Christmas season, we cannot reflect His light as we ought.

So as the busyness and stress and perhaps even drama of your Christmas season commences, remember the Light of the World. Remember that the hope we celebrate is hope for the future, but it is just as much a hope for today. Will you choose to stay close to Christ this Christmas season? Will you shine the light of Christ into the darkness?

Go, dear Reader, and be a light—and remember, the light is not yours to make, but to reflect. It is Christ’s own light, which He lets you have a part in shining for Him!

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

Matthew 5:16