The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.  (John 1:5) 

Before Halloween I drove near the University Town Center Mall and saw workers with trucks and ladders putting up lights. Why so early? It’s a massive undertaking with more than four million lights. The magnificent light displays take a great deal of time every year and have to be ready before the deadline. Santa was to arrive on Saturday, November 11. All the lights had to be up ahead of his Santa’s visit. (With four million lights, surely Rudolf got the night off.) 

The birth of Christ means that light has come into our darkness. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The light of Christ has spread to more than two billion people on the planet who identify themselves as Christians. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, tells his disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). As we follow our Lord, we reflect the light of Christ to others. With so much darkness all around us, may we shine in all we do and say. Amen. 

Dr. Sam