Day 5: Illuminate

Star - Illuminate

By Matt Curts

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV))

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5 (NIV))

The anticipation of Christmas day is inspiring in the lives of little ones. They await a joy set before them brought on by past Christmases. The simplicity of their belief gives them access to a world larger than their own. Their wait, however, compares little to the wait of God’s people, Israel, and their anticipation of a coming messiah. Stories of a God who saved them from a life of slavery were passed down from generation to generation, but so too was the silence from God which had now lasted for over 400 years. Was God inactive or absent in their lives during this period? He was not. But could you imagine how that must have felt?

My family and I visited a cave that was discovered in southern Indiana more than 100 years ago. The cave was found by children who saw a deep hole and explored it with a candle. With that little light, they weren’t even able to imagine the size and depth of these caverns where tens of thousands now visit each year.

As you tour the caves, which today are lit by electricity, at one point they shut off all the lights. It is described as total darkness, as no ambient light can be found. As you wait for the light to return, they explain that any extended period of time in total darkness will cause one to see phantom images. In less than two minutes, you are desperate for light to return to the space. For in the light, you are able to see what is real versus imagined, what is good versus bad, who is present versus absent, and the path that leads to safety and provision. I would guess, however, that if one was in total darkness for a long time that even when light returned, they would struggle to believe anything other than what they have convinced themselves to be real.

Have you found that when we sit in waiting, it is easy to make up our own stories of how things are and are not? In our own times of darkness, we are desperate for comfort and convince ourselves of things to be true for instant relief. But as the star arose in the east, the wait was over for Israel. Light had entered their space and many received it with great joy!

The life of Jesus illuminated our space. His life, death, and resurrection revealed what is most true about God and ourselves and cast light on the size and depth of his love for us.

In this Christmas season, are you ready to explore the depths of what Jesus has made available to you?  Will you trust that as you enter this space that light has come into the world and what is real in Christ is greater than you could have ever imagined or known?