Seeking the Light in the Season of Light

This image from a Jacquie Lawson e-card captures
the festivities of "the season of light."

Among the many nicknames for Christmas is “the season of light.” And rightfully so. Everywhere we look there are lights: Festive lights prominently displayed in malls and retail stores. City streets and roadways adorned with colorful lights and holiday images. Neighborhoods gaily illuminated in red, green, white and other colors. 

The Christmas tree in our home offers lighting options – all-white, all-colored lights, and if we can’t make up our mind, the lights alternate between all-white and all-colored.

 

Christmas lights have a rich tradition. Since the holiday is celebrated in December, bright lights provide a stark contrast to the cold days and dark nights we typically experience in the Northern Hemisphere. Before the advent of electricity, candles dispelled the oppressive darkness. Even today, many people employ candles to celebrate the season, whether with actual flames or those designed to replicate flickering flames but without the risk of fire.

The greatest light of all, of course, is the One for whom Christmas is celebrated. As John 8:12, tells us “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’.”

 

This is a declaration far more profound than artificial decorations that we drag out of storage, display for several weeks and then pack away again. In fact, literally from the very start, light is a recurring theme in the Bible. 

 

Opening the creation account, according to Genesis 1:3-4. “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.” 

 

In one of my devotional readings recently, the writer observed, “The Bible promises there is no darkness in God at all. That means there is no deceit, no underhandedness, no selfishness, and no manipulation. God never deceives, never misleads and never manipulates.” What a vast difference from the world in which we live, work and play.

 

Our world is hopelessly broken. If you haven’t already realized that, you can easily recognize it in ways you probably wished you didn’t. Suicides, depression, families torn apart, addictions – all are symptoms of the increasing darkness that’s surrounding us, threatening our very souls. For this reason, isn’t it good news – wonderful news – that God’s desire is to cast aside the darkness, inviting us into His incomparable light? 

 

In 1 John 1:5-7 we find this promise: “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you. God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

 

On TV and in the movies, often mysteries and crime dramas unfold at night, when it’s dark and heinous acts can be carried out unseen. When the opening scene is dark, it’s a good bet that some bad stuff is about to happen. Unfortunately, in the real world the darkness caused by sin doesn’t happen only after sundown. All we have to do is watch the evening news for proof.

 

However, because of the birth of Jesus Christ, His life, teachings, death and resurrection, we can know that darkness and sin are not the victors. The apostle John, opening his narrative about Jesus, make this statement: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:4-5).

 

Have you noticed that light and darkness can’t coexist? When you enter a darkened room and turn on a light, darkness scatters. In a far more profound way, when Christ crashes into our lives, the darkness in our own hearts is dispelled, replaced by His incomparable light – a light that doesn’t fade over time.

 

Years ago, I came across this incredible assurance, one that continues to astound me to this day: “…I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining” (1 John 2:8). 

 

This “new commandment,” as I’ve come to understand it, is that relying solely on our own devices, we might desire to do right and overcome our struggles with sin but fail repeatedly. Only through the indwelling power of Jesus Christ, by His Spirit, can we escape the overwhelming darkness and stand tall in His wonderful light.

 

Much more could be said about this. Suffice it to say, as we enjoy the glorious lights of this “season of light,” whether streaming from streetlights, draped in malls and retail stores, or gleaming from our own Christmas trees, we should remember what they symbolize: Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

Wrestling With Temptation – and Overcoming It

You’ve probably heard about the guy who said, “I can overcome everything except temptation”? Maybe you’ve said or thought something like that yourself. Temptations of every kind surround us, as pervasive as the air we breathe. And during this Christmas season, with commercials and ads bombarding us on TV, social media and phone apps, temptation seems to be surging at a frenetic rate.

It all started with Adam and Eve. They saw that first temptation – to eat of the one tree God told them not to eat from – and decided it was too enticing to resist. The result was the first sin, what theologians call “The Fall,” and humanity’s been wrestling with a sin problem ever since.

 

Temptation comes in many forms, and what’s tempting for you might not be tempting for me – and vice versa. (Emphasis on vice.) Centuries ago, someone in Christian tradition came up with a list of the “seven deadly sins”: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. But even those ‘big seven’ can manifest themselves in countless ways.

 

Lust might involve sexual desires, but can also pertain to lusting for a car, a house, a boat, an item of jewelry or piece of furniture. Anything that generates strong passion or longing, such as the lust for power or influence, or for prestige and prominence. 

 

When we think of greed, fictional characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and King Midas immediately come to mind. Individuals for whom too much was never enough. One translation of 1 Timothy 6:10 declares that “the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil.” It does not say that money is the root of everything evil, but money’s tempting powers are definitely manifested in a multitude of ways.

 

Gluttony is an interesting sin because it’s often overlooked. When was the last time you went to an all-you-can-eat church supper and found someone at the end of the line looking at your plate and saying, “Now, that’s all you can eat”?

 

Personally, I think that if there’s an actual root for every kind of evil it’s pride. Because pride – excessive regard for oneself without being concerned about the interests of others – seems to undergird every one of the big sins, and probably all of the smaller ones, too.

 

However, as I’ve often told men I was discipling and mentoring, temptation isn’t sin. Temptation is being presented with the opportunity to sin. Sin itself is acting upon the specific temptation, deciding it seems like a good idea.

 

How do we know that temptation and sin aren’t synonymous? Because as we read about Jesus Christ in Hebrews 2:18, “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” Later in the same book we’re told, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

 

Putting it simply, we don’t have to confess or repent being tempted. Because even Jesus was tempted. Confession and repentance are needed when we succumb to temptation – whatever it is – and commit sinful thoughts or actions.

 

The question is how do we successfully deal with temptations, fending them off so they don’t lead to sinful behavior? We can be heartened in knowing that Jesus, our Savior and Lord, experienced temptation. We can’t offer the excuse, ‘But Lord, you don’t understand.’ Because He indeed can and does understand, having faced similar temptations – and probably worse than any we could imagine.

 

This is why the next verse in Hebrews assures us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). God promises to provide the strength and wisdom necessary.

 

Another passage speaks directly and clearly to this perplexing issue of temptation and how to overcome it. The apostle Paul wrote to the ancient church in Corinth, offering this counsel: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

 

These verses contain several important points. First is the warning: If we’re feeling smug, with an attitude of ‘I’ve got this. No problem,’ beware. That might be the time we’re most vulnerable. History is littered with sad stories of spiritual ‘giants’ who fell into sins they felt confident could never touch them.

 

The second point is whatever it is, the temptation we’re facing isn’t unique. We haven’t discovered some unknown sin no one has ever experienced before. We’re not the first ones to ever deal with the temptation we might be wrestling with right now. 

 

One other key point is that in His faithfulness God promises He won’t allow us to face temptations beyond our capacity to cope with them. If we’re willing to let Him, the Lord will always provide ways out of temptation. “A way of escape,” as another translation states it.

 

An old friend, a diabetic, admitted having a weakness for Krispy Kreme donuts. He often would drive past the donut shop when its red neon sign was on, “Fresh Donuts,” beckoning to potential customers. For my friend, the ‘way of escape’ was to keep driving and resist the temptation to turn into the parking lot.

 

Temptations are everywhere. We don’t have to look for them. They’ll find us. But they don’t need to defeat us. As Paul wrote elsewhere, “I can do everything through [Christ] who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Including overcoming temptation.

Resolving the Giving Conundrum

We’ve just passed Giving Tuesday, the last of the pecuniary “triplets” of the Christmas season, following the Black Friday and Cyber Monday opportunities for eager shoppers. Giving Tuesday is probably the most important of the three, with so many charitable organizations dependent on the generosity of their supporters.

 

This issue of giving can be a bit perplexing for me. I’m not reluctant to give charitably, but so many causes deserve consideration. How do we respond to a seemingly unlimited number of possibilities with limited funds for giving?

 

My mailboxes – both email and snail mail – have been deluged by solicitations to support a wide range of needs, from hospitals to the homeless, from discipleship to diseases, from missions to Christian media. Unless you’re a millionaire – even a billionaire – you can’t support them all. How do you choose?

 

Searching the Scriptures won’t provide specifics, like ‘Support XYZ Ministry’ or ‘Give to That Foundation.’ But in His Word, God does provide clear principles on the how’s of giving, if not necessarily the what’s and the who’s. The Lord’s greatest concern, I’ve concluded, is not who benefits from our giving but the motives behind our giving.

 

Giving and generosity can be difficult to discuss, but something stirs when we hear heartwarming stories of generous, unselfish acts. The response to recent hurricanes is one example. While government agencies seemed to be spinning their wheels at times, debating what to do, individuals and Christian organizations like Samaritan’s Purse were quick to take action.

 

But we don’t have to wait for calamities to occur. Generosity can and should be a normal part of everyday life, like breathing and eating. While one doesn’t have to be a follower of Jesus Christ to be generous, giving becomes part of our “spiritual DNA” when we become “new creations in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

 

It was Jesus Christ who declared, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He also addressed this ‘reciprocal’ aspect of giving in another way: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

 

It would seem, according to Jesus, that if we’re willing to share from the resources the Lord has provided, He’s quite able to replace what we’ve given with more – so we can continue to be involved in this divine cycle of generosity. 

 

I’ve had the privilege of meeting and writing about numerous individuals whose commitment to giving was lavish by any standard. Industrialist R. G. LeTourneau practiced a “reverse tithe” – giving away 90% of his income and keeping 10% – rather than ‘give 10 and keep 90’ as it’s traditionally taught. 

 

Entrepreneur Stanley Tam, who died in 2023 at the age of 107, explained in his book, God Owns My Business, how he arranged to legally give 100% ownership of his company to God, with all profits used to support charitable causes and mission work. When I interviewed him, Tam quipped, without boasting, “I shovel out, and God’s shovels in. And God’s got a bigger shovel.” Wise counsel indeed from someone who practiced what he preached. 

 

Most of us, of course, aren’t in a position to take such bold steps. We may not have the spiritual gift of giving, which those men definitely had. But this doesn’t excuse us from being generous whenever God sets opportunities in front of us. Which brings us back to the conundrum: With so many worthy causes, how do we decide which to support personally?

 

Most would agree we each should start with our own churches, where we’re ministered to through worship services and other programs, and want to support their work. But I don’t believe they should be the only recipients of our charitable gifts. 

 

There’s no exact formula for singling out other beneficiaries. But we can rely on God’s leading through His Spirit, as well as recognizing which causes we feel particularly passionate about.

 

Over the years I’ve found two Bible passages especially instructive. One of them is 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 which says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 

 

The word “cheerful” could literally be translated as “hilarious.” I think of the closing scenes of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, in which transformed Ebenezer Scrooge begins bestowing his wealth on others rather than hoarding it for himself. Having abandoned his miserly ways, Scrooge becomes giddy upon realizing how generosity can enhance the lives of others.

 

If we’re giving grudgingly or feeling compelled to do so, that doesn’t please the Lord. He wants us to give freely – and excitedly.

 

One other verse also is helpful in reminding us that giving is not a seasonal activity. In 1 John 3:17 we’re told, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” This doesn’t mean having to respond to every panhandler we encounter, but the Lord can give us the wisdom and discernment in how best to steward the resources He has entrusted to our care.

 

If God loved us so much that He gave His own Son for our salvation and redemption, how can we refuse to give as He guides?

Finding True Meaning in ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’

They’ve already started – conversations, discussions and commentaries about ‘the real meaning of Christmas.’ As if it were a topic for debate, like what color to paint the living room. The holiday rom-com movies are posing their opinions, TV commercials are offering their points of view, and familiar seasonal songs are presenting all manner of Christmas sentiments.

 

It’s heartening that a new movie, which some have already proclaimed “a Christmas classic,” provides an answer to the real-meaning-of-Christmas question that’s consistent with the biblical account. Based on the 1972 novel by Barbara Robinson, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” offers a glimpse of annual Nativity reenactments in a way most of us have never seen or imagined.

How do you suppose people in a church would react if a gaggle of troublemakers showed up at auditions for their cherished Christmas pageant and demanded to be stars of the show? In “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” that’s exactly what happens. The Herdmans, six rabble rousing siblings deemed to be “the worst kids in the world,” decide to take over the town’s “sacred” tradition.

 

They steal schoolmates’ lunches, pelt neighbor kids with snowballs, use rough language, and terrorize everyone they encounter, including adults. How could youngsters like these ever be considered to take part in a calm, “we’ve always done it this way” presentation of Christ’s birth? This is what’s so compelling about the film directed by Dallas Jenkins, best-known as the director, producer and co-writer of “The Chosen” video series about Jesus Christ and His followers. 

 

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is at once heartwarming, humorous, thought-provoking, tear-jerking, and maybe even a little convicting. We know Jesus came to save sinners like us – but for sinners like the Herdmans, too?

 

In the minds of some, the all-too-familiar Christmas story might provoke a ho-hum attitude, maybe a bit of a yawn. Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus swaddled in a feeding trough because of the inn that had no room for them. Shepherds, sheep and other barnyard animals, wise men, and angels. We know that story. Been there, done that. This is where “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” triumphs. It affords an opportunity to look at this timeless biblical narrative with fresh eyes.

 

The Herdmans, you see, have never heard the story. They know nothing about Mary, or Joseph, whom Imogene, ringleader of the Herdmans, calls “Joe.” They’re astounded that a king – Herod – would want to kill a little baby. And the way the angel gets the shepherds’ attention isn’t quite what we have envisioned from the Scriptures.

 

Prior to the film’s release, Jenkins said capturing Robinson’s book for the silver screen has been a lifelong dream. He, his production team and the cast have done an outstanding job, its tone evoking such holiday classics as “A Christmas Story” and “Miracle on 34^th Street.” And with an unapologetic declaration of the Gospel message.

 

In Luke 2:10, the angel declares to the lowly shepherds – who had no social clout in those days – “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Watching the Herdmans absorb the Christmas story and undergo a slow but certain transformation, like butterflies emerging from a nondescript cocoon, we realize perhaps more than ever that this “good news of great joy” truly is for all the people.

 

Isaiah 9:6 gives the prophecy, “For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Somehow, as we view this greatest story of stories through the eyes of a bunch of ragamuffins called the Herdmans, these words take on even greater meaning. Indeed, the true meaning of Christmas.

This is a film for the entire family. For many it will surely prove a highlight of the entire Christmas season. I’m eager to see it again.