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Show Shepherd's Fold Lights of all shapes, sizes and colors brighten the Christmas season, bringing delight to the children and a feeling of festiveness to people all over the world. In the hustle and hurry of the season, few stop to consider the Light that started the celebration. Most miss the one true light, Jesus Christ. God's prophets prophesied of the Light ". . .the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." (Isa. 60:19) Zacharias prophesied "Through the tender ten-der mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78-79) The apostle Paul spoke of the light that visited him on the way to Damascus ". . .the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (II Cor. 4:4) The apostle Peter also spoke of the light ". . .ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts;. . ." (II Pet. 1:19) The light of which they all spoke is the light that guided the people of God through the wilderness, the light that brought the wisemen from the far east to the town of Bethlehem, the same light that shone around the shepherds in the fields and brought the news that Jesus Christ was born. It is the same light .that brings light to the Gentile and deliverance to Israel. Everything pointed to the night that Jesus, Je-sus, the light that started Christmas, was born in a manger in a little town called Bethlehem. The light that was born into the world would bring the knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of sins. Isaiah 9:6 states what this light is to us: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,. . ." Jesus himself said "I am the light of the wrjrld. If any man will follow me, he shall not walk in darkness, but he will have the light of life." He also promised "I will never leave you nor forsake you, not even unto the end of the world." Jesus invited all to come to Him, saying "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matt. 11: 28-29) What a gift from heaven. We have all this because Jesus was willing to come as a light to the world, yet many people walk in darkness with no knowledge of the gift of light. The apostle John wrote ". . .for God sent not His Son unto the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. . .and this is the condemnation, condem-nation, that light has come into the- world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. . .but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (John 3:17 and 19; I John 1:7) We thank our God for the light that shines in darkness, that first Christmas light still shining today. May that light, Jesus Christ, shine through us as we remember re-member Him not just on Christmas Day, but every day. Pastor John Cowen Shepherd's Fold, Tropic |