The Power of Light

A few weeks ago, I went to check on my kids in the middle of the night. It was completely dark in our house, yet I figured I could navigate the familiar terrain without a problem. I was wrong. As I turned the corner and went into my boys’ room, I stubbed my toe on a chair. Ouch! I held my scream as to not wake anyone up, but I was in pain. I went limping back to my room knowing I should have used my flashlight.
 
Walking in the dark is bound to get you hurt, so why it is that we so often ignore the ever-present, available light and risk walking in the dark? Scripture has a few things to say about this:
 
It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light. John 11:10
 
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:19

Look at this amazing statement the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Nebraska recently released after they did a study on how far light from a flashlight can travel. They concluded:

“If you were to point a flashlight straight up into space, there is a chance that several of the photons might travel on a course parallel to each other. If they were not blocked by dust, air molecules, or cosmic particles, they could conceivably travel a huge distance through space and be detected millions of light years away. There's no limit to the distance that light can travel, only limits in the human eye’s capability to detect the light.”
 
The power and design of light is amazing! Imagine-- if the light of a simple flashlight can travel huge distances through space, what can the source of all light Himself illuminate?
 
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
 
Light from a simple flashlight might be able to travel a huge distance through space, but Jesus, the light of the world, is infinitely brighter, more powerful, and more illuminating. With Jesus as our light, we have been pulled out of darkness! We would be wise to always let the light of the world guide our path.
 
For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life (Psalm 56:13).

This coming Sunday, during our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services (10:45am, 2pm, 3:30pm) we will be celebrating Jesus as the light of the world. I hope you will be able to join us!
 
Peace,
Nick