Christmas lights are my favorite holiday decorations. Just when the landscape becomes bare and dreary and the nights are longest, cheery lights go up inside and outside. I miss them when we take them down at the end of the month.
I don’t know if I did a good job teaching my children the symbolism behind many of our Christmas customs. But the symbolism behind Christmas lights is a favorite.
God began creation by saying “Let there be light”. But He soon saw His world engulfed in darkness when sin came in. Nevertheless, He promised light would shine again.
“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42:6-7).
“But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4:2).
The Isaiah passage that foretells of the child born, the son given who will take David’s throne, rule in righteousness, whose “name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” begins with “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2).
Scripture points repeatedly to Jesus as the light.
Jesus said, “ “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:4-5).
When we believe on the Lord, His light shines through us:
At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light (Ephesians 5:8-14a).
The NKJV renders that last phrase “But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.”
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1: 5-7).
Someday, for God’s children, “night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). How desperately we need to choose light now, because those who don’t will be “thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12).
For now, though we have the light, we live in a dark world.
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God (Isaiah 50:10).
Keep looking to the light!
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Stray Thoughts 
Christmas lights are among my favorite symbols too. Lights capture everyone’s attention, whether they are intentional about looking for them or not. May the Light of Christ continue to capture all our attention. Glad you’re back home and can enjoy your lights, Barbara.
Thank you for this good reminder to keep looking for the light. The symbolism regarding light in the Bible is beautiful and moving. I am often reminded that all light in this world is reflected Light. I always hate to take the Christmas lights down too. They are so cheery shining away in the darkness at this time of year.
In dark times – He is always the light! What beautiful encouragement and reminder that those Christmas lights are so much more than sparkle!
I think most of us were so busy/flustered when our kids were little that it was hard to teach things the way we now think we’d like to. Maybe that’s a purpose of grandkids? 🙂 Enjoyed these thoughts and glad you are home!
Love this so much. When I look at my decorations it will give me something extra to think about this year.
Thank you for sharing this great lesson about why we need to look to the light, and how beautifully our Christmas lights remind us of that.
This year especially the lights have come to hold more significance than ever before. The comfort. The warmth. The cheer. The assurance. The peace. His Light brings all that and so much more. Grateful you are home, Barbara!
We did an I Am tree with our church’s kids last Sunday, and it was wonderful (masked and all).to be sharing these truths with our kids.
I love Christmas lights. I bought a set this year from a vendor on Amazon. When I opened them up, I was disappointed and almost packed them up to return. They were an odd shape that I’d never seen and they were tiny. I thought for sure they would have zero impact on such a big tree. Boy was I wrong. They’re the best set of lights I’ve ever bought. I’m buying another set for next year. They shine brightly and add such warmth to the tree even though they’re small and shaped funny. One individual light wouldn’t make a difference but what a difference is made when we all shine brightly.
Our small group was just reveling in Psalm 27, which, of course, begins, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” Great post, Barbara.
I love Christmas lights too – they are such an encouraging sign of hope at a dark time of year. And I think this year we are particularly conscious of our need for light. I love how the theme traces through the whole of the Bible.
Christmas lights are my favorite too. From a very young age, I sought solace in the sparkly lights. Then as I grew up and learned that Christ is the light of the world, they began taking on a new meaning for me. I love how our world can be so dark and how God can shine His light, and it makes a huge difference. Blessings to you, Barbara, and a Merry Christmas. Maree
Barbara – I will be featuring your post this Friday on Grace & Truth Link-Up. Maree
Thank you, Maree.
I have never made a direct connection between Christmas lights and the Light of the World. Now I realize why I love them so much and hate to take the down. Thank you so much Barbara!
Amen and Amen. Thank you for sharing your semblance of your Christmas lights and Jesus is the light of the world. Great verses. To God be the glory. Blessings.
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Saw you on G&T and came over to read your post. We are leaving the Christmas tree up an extra week this year. I have been blessed to spend time with the Lord in the mornings, with the tree light twinkling. I just can’t give it up yet. Thanks, Barbara.