Christmas: Brighter and Brighter

Merry Christmas!

Is your life better now that it was a year ago? 5 years ago? 10? 40?

Wondering where the Merry Christmas is?

I’ve been pondering this question this week.I’m wrapping up a video devotional series focusing on The Word. Monday the devotional was centered on this passage of scripture:

1In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2He existed in the beginning with God.

3God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

4The Word gave life to everything that was created,

and his life brought light to everyone.

5The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:1-5

Monday morning, I spent 20 minutes meditating on this passage, and I was hit with a wild idea.

The Bright Light

John tells us Jesus came to bring light. As I thought about the arc of history I thought about the beginning the middle and the end (or at least the now).

I thought about how God created everything – including us in His image. I thought about how this was the brightest the world ever was. Not long after, darkness entered the world. God eventually created a people – the Israelites – to carry His light, but as a group, they abandoned God and the light slowly diminished.

At the time of Jesus birth, it might have been the darkest moment in human history. The light of God was being forcefully extinguished by a harsh and cruel government and the faithful remnant crushing each other with rules, laws and code. At just the right time, God introduced Jesus to the world.

Into the darkness, light broke out.

No matter how hard it tries, darkness can’t ever completely overcome light.

Light always wins.

Brighter and Brighter

The arc of history didn’t end there. That was just the middle. Since that time, the light has continued to grow brighter and brighter. Sometimes and in some places darkness would appear to advance, but only for a season – think Nazi Germany, the Dark Ages and the rule of Caligula. Eventually the light has always reappeared.

Light always wins.

Back to your life. This is where the idea gets wild. Answer this question…Is your life better now than it was in the past? The truth is it may not be. The economy may be worse. The religious rights may be less. Politics may be dirtier. But that’s this time in this place.

My guess is if you come from a conservative frame of mind, we are worse off than we were 40 years ago.

I argue the light is continuing to grow brighter. Why? Jesus is advancing. Even when He is beat down and oppressed, He wins.

Light always wins.

Here’s the best part, the world will eventually see the same light it saw in the beginning. Jesus is returning, and the light will be in full. The arc of history will be complete.

The Light will finally and forever win.

This Christmas remember it’s brighter. Your circumstances aside, the Light aways wins.

Merry Christmas!