Message summary: Make it your prayer today:  that Jesus Christ, the everlasting light, will shine through us, in both our words and deeds, and even through our countenance.

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"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone" (Isaiah 9:2).

Early yesterday morning, long before sunrise, I was driving on a dark highway. I guess my eyesight is not as good as it once was as I had trouble seeing clearly and had to really concentrate (always a good idea when you are driving). Good thing I was since there was a pedestrian along the road wearing dark clothing walking with the traffic flow (that is, he was not facing me, the driver of the approaching car).

It startled me as I considered the possible consequences that could result from a brief lapse in giving my full attention. Like the man I saw yesterday morning, many walk in darkness in a literal physical sense. But far more walk in spiritual darkness every day. After the fall it's the natural state of the human race.

Light is one of the great themes of the incarnation. Light can be glowing, beaming, piercing, twinkling, dim or intense. There are many sources of light: in nature the sun, moon and stars in their courses above. In our homes we have light from electricity, and perhaps candles. Our Amish neighbors use gas lanterns or increasingly battery-operated lights (which they use in the schools). Some may have the warm light radiating from the flame of burning firewood and for many years we had a warm light from our coal stove when we burned it in the cold months of the year.

But there is only one source of life-giving spiritual light!

Our verse today begins, "The people who walked in darkness". Indeed today and in every age many walk in darkness. But our text continues, "have seen a great light". In the context that great light is Christ since this is a Messianic portion of the book of Isaiah. Following is the familiar and oft quoted passage, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" (v.6).

In the Apostle John's account of the incarnate Christ he writes, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men".

In this church age we look back on the full revelation of Christ and understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus Christ came to be the Light of the world, to reveal the knowledge and glory of God, and to shine brightly in a world darkened and infiltrated by sin.

Have you seen the great light? Is He your Lord and God? Today, are you experiencing God's radiant light as it shines upon you? Are others seeing its revelation of truth and ray of hope shining through you by the words you speak, your godly behavior and attitudes? We sure hope so!

Make it your prayer today that Jesus Christ the everlasting light will shine through us in both our words and deeds. It will be noticed by others even in our countenance.

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber