Light in a Manger

David and I were leaving the sanctuary late one evening last week after our lengthy rehearsal for the Christmas Keyboard Praise program that was to be held over the weekend. Being the last two to leave, David said, "Grab the door while I turn out the lights. I don't like it in here when it's dark." And so about the time he hit the light switches, I opened the door to the hallway where the emergency lights remained on. As David rushed to where I was standing holding the door, I reminded him of a truth: darkness is a coward. It flees light. For, you see, when I opened that door, the dark of the sanctuary did not dispel the light of the hallway; the light overcame the dark!

Ah, is this not what we celebrate this Christmas day? We don't rejoice that there is no darkness or suffering in the world, unless, of course, we have our heads in the sand, for indeed there is. Turn on your TV any time of day or night and hear about poverty, racism, corruption, etc. What we do claim, however, is that some 2000 years ago, God set loose a light in a manger which makes that darkness cower.

If you can find no other reason to celebrate today, precious reader, then celebrate this: The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5).

Merry Christmas to each of you for, indeed, the Light has come!