The Light of Christ

by Pastor Marty

I remember, as a new pastor, looking out my office window at a house that was draped with Christmas lights. I shook my head in disbelief knowing that we had not even celebrated Thanksgiving, yet. Couldn’t this family wait until after Thanksgiving? Doesn’t this family know that we have to spend some time in Advent before we reach Christmas? What is the hurry, I thought?

It turns out that there was a sense of urgency for this family. They just could not wait!

This couple had a little baby boy who was born prematurely. This little one would spend almost a hundred days in the hospital, and some days, were very questionable. This family lived with uncertainty and fear. Still, still they persevered in hope. They were drawn forward in faith. They were held by One greater than themselves. The Christmas lights on that night were shining brightly almost as a demonstration to that neighborhood for the need of a savior. This family could not wait…. Sometimes we cannot wait either because we know that this world is dying for a savior.

2020 has been exhausting. It seems that Christmas lights were hung a bit earlier this year; sometimes right next to the Thanksgiving displays. I totally get it…. Enough is enough! What are we going to do…when life does not make sense? What are we going to do…when it feels like we are out of control? What are we going to do…when we fear that we might not get to the other side? Maybe, just maybe we start hanging Christmas lights in protest…. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not, cannot, and will not overcome the light (Jn. 1:5). This simple ritual, for me, is a demonstration that we will not be characterized by the darkness of this world.

That little baby boy would eventually get out of the hospital. He was baptized in the hospital, but we had a public acknowledgement of his baptism in worship. I poured lots of water upon him. I lifted him high, high above my shoulders. Tears came easily. So did the applause and joy.

I will hang Christmas lights. I will do it as a demonstration that we are not defined by the darkness, but rather, by the light of Jesus. I will do it in remembrance of this family, and many other families who simply cannot wait. I will do it with joy and delight because the day is coming when we will celebrate the birth of Jesus, the savior of the world!

-- Pastor Marty

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