12 Weeks to Christmas: The Light Has Come!

12 Weeks to Christmas:
The Light Has Come!

It may surprise you to realise that there are just twelve weeks until Christmas. For some, that brings excitement; for others, a sense of panic about shopping, cooking, or organising family gatherings. But as believers, our countdown to Christmas is about more than presents under the tree - it is about preparing our hearts to celebrate the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.

John 1:5 (NLT) reminds us: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

Think about that for a moment. We live in a world where darkness seems to be growing - fear, division, uncertainty, and brokenness are all around us. Yet Christmas is the annual reminder that the Light has already come. Jesus stepped into our darkness. He is not a flickering candle, but an unquenchable flame of hope, peace, joy, and love.

Light Brings Hope
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, it fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy: "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light" (Isaiah 9:2, NLT). His coming means we are never without hope. No matter how heavy the year has been, hope is alive because Christ has come.

Light Brings Direction
Just as the star guided the wise men to Jesus, so His light guides us today. In a world filled with confusion and shifting values, Jesus is the true North. Psalm 119:105 (NLT) says, "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." We don't have to stumble aimlessly - His light shows us the way.

Light Brings Life
Jesus Himself declared in John 8:12 (NLT): "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." This is not seasonal; it is eternal. The Light who came at Christmas is the Light who gives eternal life to all who believe.

A Call to Shine
As we move closer to Christmas, let us not just wait for the day - we are called to live in the Light now. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 (NLT): "You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden." If His light dwells within us, then we are called to reflect it to others.

In the next twelve weeks, opportunities will come to invite, to share, to serve, and to shine. Don't let them pass by. Be intentional about pointing others to the true Light of Christmas.

May our words, actions, and lives declare the truth that the Light has come!