The Beauty of His Light
Updated: Dec 6, 2022
In Him was Life and the Life was the Light of men. (John 1:4).
The second in a series of Beauty Will Save the World, today the focus is on Light. It's the season of Advent and all over the world, Light is being celebrated. His Glorious Light dispels all darkness. The very first element God spoke into the world of chaos when He said, "Light BE" and darkness fled. Darkness can't survive the tiniest pinhole of light. It is obliterated. Extinguished. (Be sure and pick up your FREE GIFT in this series ).
And Suddenly!
My favorite Christmas Carol as a little girl was While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks. The thought of shepherd boys just sitting on a hill in the dark when SUDDENLY there appeared a great LIGHT was fascinating!! A GREAT LIGHT broke through the darkness, like a huge star exploding, and a heavenly host of angels burst forth SINGING and proclaiming the Glory of God and Peace on Earth to All Men! I had always loved to look up at the brilliant stars piercing through the black velvet sky. Oh, how my imagination danced as I pondered what those shepherds saw that night and wished I had been there.
One December evening when I was five years old, soon to turn six in January, I was lying on the living room floor with my Dinah Shore coloring book and a box of 64 Crayolas. (Magenta and Cerulean were my favorites). My parents were dressing to go out to a Christmas party. My little sisters, baby Susan, 3 months, and Diane, age 3, were somewhere else in the house. Finally, I could enjoy the solitude of my favorite occupation.
Mama passed through the living room to the kitchen, in various stages of dress, on her way to prepare my baby sister's bottle. Each time I tried to stop her with a special request:
"Mama, will you sing whileshepherdswatchedtheirflocksbynightallseatedontheground?"
It was one word, one phrase, and could not be separated.
"Not right now!" was her response every time, as she swooshed through to the kitchen and again on her way back.
This happened several times, once in a white nylon slip, then in red lipstick, then stockings and rhinestone necklace, and finally in her beautiful mallard green party dress with the princess neckline.
"Mama, will you sing whileshepherdswatchedtheirflocksbynightallseatedontheground?"
She still wasn't wearing her heels and I knew she had to feed the baby, but time was running out! Betty, the babysitter, would be there soon and my chances of hearing my song would be dashed. By this time she was walking hurriedly through the room, the heavy barefooted steps of one on a mission. But I took one last shot.
"Mama, will you sing whileshepherdswatchedtheirflocksbynightallseatedontheground?"
To my surprise, she stopped suddenly, twirled around, and with mallard green full skirt still swirling in motion, kicking up a cloud of Chanel No. 5, in all caps, she shouted,
"ALL RIGHT!!!!"
At which point she stood erect, stockinged feet together, hands clenched at her bodice, and with a clear soprano voice, sang,
"While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down
and Glory shown around.
And Glory shown around."
Just for me.
She transformed in an instant from harried, shouting mother to an operatic performer. I was oddly amused -- but I dared not laugh. And I believe I showed great wisdom and restraint for a five-year-old by not asking for the second verse. Probably because I was almost six, even though I really wanted to hear the "Fear not" part. Quickly she returned to rushed-and-busy-mother mode, but not without a final word,
"THERE!!! ARE YOU SATISFIED???," after which she walked quickly (stomped) back to her bedroom to finish dressing.
And I was. Satisfied, that is. I had heard my special song and would be pondering shepherds on a hill and that great Light in the sky for the rest of the evening.
Pondering
There is a trending theme in our western culture to lament over the past. The sins and atrocities of the fathers of nations and kings. The thought is to somehow shame the culture into repentance and reform by dredging up dark secrets of history and punishing its perpetrators. But the Bible is clear. Man's anger cannot and never will produce the fruit of righteousness. His cure for darkness is Light.
Understand {this} my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, {a ready listener}.slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God {wishes and} requires (James 1:19-20 AMP).
In fact, anger is further described by the Apostle James as uncleanness. Wickedness. Rather, he instructs the Church, the Ekklesia, to allow a gentle, modest sprit to be planted in our hearts, which is able to "...save our souls" (1:21). The Beauty of Meekness. Gentleness. Peace. The Fruit of the spirit -- is a fitting response to an angry, confused soul.
In 1607 at Cape Henry, Rev. Robert Hunt planted the cross on the Virginia shore and as the first official act by the English in the New World in covenantal language declared, “…from these very shores the Gospel shall go forth to not only this New World but the entire world.” https://www1.cbn.com/cape-henry-spiritual-roots-of-a-nation. Yet many believe anger is justified. That this nation hasn't paid enough for veering off its spiritual roots.
My Bible says Jesus was enough.
But in the midst of judgment, there is the promise and the certainty of the Lord's deliverance and there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish... The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light: ... for unto us is born... (Is. 9:1, 6 AMP)
Look up! Ponder the Light!
So, what will you choose to ponder today? In this season? After the one that has just passed? Is it the darkness of broken man and his culture? Or is it the Light that dispels the darkness and holds the promise of Peace and Good Will toward ALL men? It's possible to miss it. Herod did. We'll talk about that next time.
Meanwhile, look up! And may the Light of the Gospel of Love and Truth penetrate all darkness and chaos in your heart and life today. And may the risen Savior, the true Morning Star shine on your household and loved ones this Christmas season.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).