Darkness, quelled only by His Light, at Christmas


*The following article was published in The Henderson Daily Dispatch, Saturday edition, December 22, 2012

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.” 
(Genesis 1:1-4 NASB)

The nation was stunned by the horrific act of violence that occurred Friday morning, December 14th at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. My heart broke and tears filled my eyes as I watched the news unfold. Words cannot begin to describe the devastation that has visited that quaint little town. This is especially true for the families who lost loved ones. Let’s continue to pray for God’s peace and comfort to be with them in their time of grief and loss (Psalm 34:4-8).

 Every act of murder ought to provoke outrage and disgust, but there’s something especially condemnable about the murder of innocent and defenseless children. Even though investigators continue to search for a motive it will never explain this heinous act. This is a sober reminder of the sin and darkness that moves so prevalent throughout the earth.

The Bible begins with creation. God created the heavens and the earth – from the sun, moon and stars, to the fish of the sea, birds of the air, and beasts of the field. God created man in His image and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. 

 Everything created by God was good, but the story doesn’t end there. Genesis chapter three teaches that man willingly chose to disobey God bringing sin into the world. All that had been created good was now tragically corrupted by sin. Murder was one of the first acts of sin committed as Cain took the life of his brother Abel in Genesis chapter four.

We live in a dark, fallen world where sickness, pain and death abound. This causes us to ponder the true meaning of Christmas – God laying aside His glory in heaven and coming to earth wrapped in human flesh. Christmas is not about the Claus; it’s about the Christ who came as Savior to bring light to a dark world. God said again, ‘Let there be light;’ and on that cold winters night in Bethlehem, there was light. God sent forth His Son in order that “the people walking in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” (Isaiah 9:2 NASB)

In Christ, God dispels darkness. He brings light to sinful human hearts. Love, hope, peace and joy sustain us even in the midst of sickness, pain and death. The answer to the darkness of this world is not political, psychological, medical or legislative. The only answer is the Christ of Christmas. 

 I pray that you and your family have a very merry Christmas!

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NASB)