By ED GANUS

Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined.”

Our city is decorated with beautiful Christmas decorations of all kinds. Trees have lights and ornaments that attract much attention. Yards have nativity scenes and shrubbery covered with lights. Houses are bright with many lights that hang from their eves, and window are lighted and decorated. I am amazed that these lights overcome the darkness and can be seen from a long distance away.

In my early adult life, before I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior, I thought that there could be too much decoration and too many lights, but since Jesus saved me each and every one of the lights remind me of his words in St. John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

There are many lights related to Christmas. In Matthew 2:2, we find the star that guided the wise men to the house where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, the newborn King, were; this is a very important light from God for the wise men came to worship Jesus by following the star God had placed in the east for them to follow and find the King. Because of this many people choose a star as part of their decorations.

Another light related to that first Christmas in found in Luke 2:9, where the light is called the glory of the Lord and Luke said, “The glory of the Lord shone round about them.”

The greatest light, Jesus Christ who said He is the light of the world, continues to shine through his church; for Jesus said to his followers in Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the World.” His followers make up his church and He shines through each true follower, for He said also in verse 16, “Let your light so shine before men, that that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

St. John 1:4 says, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

St. John 3:19-21 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

If Jesus, the light, has come into your life, praise God; If you still walk in the darkness of sin, receive the light by repenting of sin and receive and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life and begin to walk with the light that shines, Jesus, and serve Him in his church.

The greatest light continues into eternity in heaven, for Revelation 21:23 states, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof.” The Lamb is Jesus the new born King.

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The Rev. Edward Ganus is pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church and a member of The Greater Andalusia Area Ministerial Association.