John 8:12
“Jesus said: ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’”
In 1934, Arthur Shurcliff, a landscape architect, lit single electric candles in the windows of four public buildings in his city, an event known at the time as the “White Lighting.” Visitors were so taken with the look of the candles, they requested that they be available for purchase for their own homes. Eventually, the event expanded to include a fireworks display, wreath-making, Christmas concerts, a Yule Log, and holiday feasts. Every year, the historic city of Williamsburg, Virginia, launches the Christmas season with what has become known as “The Grand Illumination.“
Each year on December 1, or on the first day of Advent, whichever comes first, my husband and I kick off the Christmas season with our own “Grand Illumination” by placing candles in our windows and lighting the outside of the house. As we get older, it has become a bit harder, but we still hope the decorations help bring light to the darkness in our neighborhood during the Advent season, leading up to Epiphany. People from all walks of life, all over the world, string lights and decorate trees to brighten the nights and perhaps bring a bit of hope during the Winter darkness.
The first week of Advent begins on Sunday, and the theme is HOPE. If ever we need a symbol of hope, this is the time! But, in reality, the strings of lights we put up are just temporary, man-controlled symbols, and we have the power to turn them on and off at will.
In ancient Bethlehem, nighttime brought pitch darkness, with the only light coming from clay oil lamps that offered little reflection. On the night Jesus was born, the shepherds set out to find the One the angels told them about, guided by a light so bright it offered secure footing as they walked, climbed the hills, and crossed the streams until they entered the city of Bethlehem. The shepherds knew when they had reached their destination, for in the dark streets shone a light that was no ordinary light—it came from God Himself. The everlasting Light—God’s Grand Illumination—shone down on Jesus, the One who could offer Hope and cast out the darkness in the world.
Looking at the world around us that sometimes seems so very dark, there are days when we might be given to fear and a loss of hope. Do not fear, dear readers! God illuminates our way to Him, to His love. In our verse today, God promises that “he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” The Way has already been illuminated for us; we only need to seek Him, and we shall find Him. All the years we have had doubts, questions, worries, hopes, and fears have been met in Jesus that night in Bethlehem. Alleluia!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making a way to Your love, so that we can be released from fear and have Hope in this dark world—the Hope offered in the Christ child. May the lights that we see and enjoy this Christmas remind us of Your perfect Light—Your Grand Illumination—that never dims, never goes out. In the name of the Christ of Bethlehem, we pray. Amen.
I am honored that you have read my devotion today, and pray it is an encouragement to you and glorifies God. To receive Devotions For All Reasons in your email every day, go to the homepage and simply click on “Subscribe.”
