One of my highlights each Christmas is putting
up the tree and trimming it out with lights and decorations. We start at the bottom and wind our way upwards
finishing it off with the angel at the top.
Then the drum rolls for the big test – plugging it in. When it all works and the tree lights up, it
is a beautiful sight. Often I will sit
in the living room with just the tree lights on gazing at their beauty.
The
tradition of Christmas lights goes back hundreds of years. Have you ever heard of the word, “Weihnachtspyramide”? I cannot
pronounce it, but it is the German word for Christmas Pyramid. In the late Middle Ages the people in the Erzgebirge
(Ore Mountains) of Germany to set up a wooden pyramid in their homes at Christmas time. It was decorated with many things then lit up
with candles. As time moved on this
pyramid merged with the evergreen tree to become the modern Christmas tree.
During
the time of Jesus’ birth (4-8 B.C.), the world was dark, filled with much
evil. Hope was scarce. Then in the midst of it all a great light came
from the heavens where God sent His Only Son to earth. Then He hung a bright star in the sky above
his birthplace announcing to the world that hope had come. Jesus once said of Himself, “I have come into
the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness”
(John 12:46).
From
Jesus’ birth, death, burial and resurrection His light never dimmed, shining brightly
always. To some His light was praised as
it guided them out of darkness into a living hope. To others His light was offensive exposing
their evil deeds and corrupt ways.
The
greatest gifts you can give this Christmas season are two-fold. One, give yourself wholly to Jesus, letting
His light dwell in you. Secondly, give
yourself to others letting them see the light of Christ within you. This Christmas may the Light of the world be your
hope for today.
