The Light That Never Goes Out
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5 (NLT)
I love the lights of Christmas! It’s fun to drive through a neighborhood and see the colors as they sparkle with the joy and peace this season brings. When I see the lights of Christmas, I’m reminded of the true light of Christmas, Jesus Christ. His life brings light to a world of darkness. His light is unlike any other light! It is amazing in its brilliance!
There are several different translations that give us greater insight into the characteristics of God’s light. The New Living Translation says that His light shines in the darkness and “the darkness can never extinguish it.” God’s light is inextinguishable! It will never burn out! No matter how dark the night is, nothing can extinguish God’s light!
Another translation renders that verse like this: “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (NIV) Man can no more extinguish God’s light than he can understand it! How could we ever understand the nature of God’s love and grace? How could we possibly comprehend the mercy of God that would cause Him to shine His light in our dark world? But God’s light doesn’t have to be understood to be experienced! We experience God’s light in our hearts by faith!
The New International Version 2011 sheds yet another shade of meaning into God’s light with this translation: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
How encouraging! The darkness cannot extinguish God’s light, nor understand it, and regardless of how much evil darkens our world, that darkness will never overcome the light of Christmas!
Jesus Christ brings light to those who put their trust in Him. His light brings us out of the darkness. In His light, we are able to see ourselves as we really are, as God sees us – sinners who need a Savior. His light removes the darkness of sin in our lives and leads us into paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.
These are dark days in which we live, but we have a blessed hope. There is a light that shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it, understand it, nor overcome it! Let His light shine in your life for all to see. I love Isaiah’s challenge in Isaiah 60:1-3 (NIV), “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”