For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! – Ephesians 5:8

There I was, nestled ever so comfortably beneath the covers of my cozy warm bed with not a care in the world. Then without warning, a clue or prelude, a sudden flash of light appeared in an instant through my eyelids. The world in which I had inhabited just moments before, had been suddenly and without warning, changed in the blink of an eye. My dear sweet wife evidently believed very strongly that is was time for me to awaken from my slumber sleep. So what was I supposed to do but reach down and grab a handful of covers and pull them directly over my head to once again enter my domain of darkness which I had gotten so cozily used to through the night.

When Jesus entered the world over two-thousand years ago, He also entered this dark world in an instant when His glorious light penetrated the entire universe. The birth of the Christ child fulfilled Isaiah’s ancient prophecy:

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone” (Is 9:1)

Also in the book of Malachi we read:

The newborn Son of God shines like the sun; he is the “sun of justice” who brings “healing rays” (Mal 3:20)

Jesus is the “true light” (Jn 1:9), the “Light of the World” (Jn 8:12; 9:5; 12:46), and He was born during the night watch (Lk 2:8), at midnight, when it was pitch black outside, the time when the darkness was the deepest and most intense. On that first Christmas night, the light shined in the darkness (Jn 1:5a), the glory of the Lord shone (Lk 2:9), the darkness has not overcome it (Jn 1:5b), and it enlightens everyone (Jn 1:9).

I was speaking with a very dear pastor friend of mine last week who is about to turn eighty-four this week. I consider him an earthly spiritual father to me as many years ago, he opened my eyes of what it truly means to walk in the faith and not waver as a man of God. His example continues to speak volumes to me to this very day and challenges me to live a life of holiness unto the Lord.

In our discussion, he turned to me at one point and said, “Bryan, I believe people are in such a state of slumber and I’m not sure what its going to take to wake them up”. I totally agreed with his words and we went on to share about what God had done in each of our lives and continues to do out of His faithfulness and commitment to His Word for the remainder of our visit.

Dear friend, there is coming a day and it is drawing near more rapidly as the days go by. Jesus Christ is getting ready once again to approach this dark world and enter the universe in all His splendor and glory as the reigning King of Kings and Lord of Lords when He comes to take His bride, His Church.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:36-44)

My earnest prayer for each of us this Christmas would be that we all rise from our slumber and sleep and yield our body, soul, and spirit to the One and only One that is worthy of all our praise, honor and worship.

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you & your families.

From our house to yours.

Remain Blessed,