If I had to pick a favorite decoration it would be difficult. The most special ones are the ones that have memories attached to them. When I look at the Nutcracker, I think of the ballet with my mom. When I look at some of the handmade ornaments on the tree, I think of my grandmother or the chubby little hands of my children. Some my Christmas village pieces were given to me by a loved one or have a special story that goes with it. Many of the Christmas decorations that we use today represent something about Jesus Christ. The Christmas tree is an evergreen. It has a long history in ancient countries of symbolizing that life triumphs over death. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as a symbol of eternal life. Legend has it that Martin Luther was the first to bring the Christmas tree indoors. He lit it with candles to represent Christ’s birth. Another common decoration is the star on top of the tree. This star represents the star that led the Wise Men to Bethlehem where they would find the baby, Jesus Christ. It is often pictured as the 6-pointed star that is referred to as the Star of David. In Rev. 22:16 Christ says, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” For the Christian, the Star of David is Jesus Christ.
Stars were created to separate the light from the darkness. (Gen. 1:16-17) In John 1:9 we read “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” In John 8:12 Jesus tells us that He is that Light. He says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Acts 26:23 tells that Christ suffered to show forth light.
Stars burn brightly just as His truth burns bright. Many have tried to put out the light of His truth, but they cannot. Many tried to put out the light in Japan. I am told that Christians had to step on the fumie or be killed. However, God’s Truth is still Japan today. In 2 Cor. 4:4-6 we read that Satan tries to blind us so that we can’t see the light. But God “hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
What happens when there is no light? John 3:19-20 tells us that where there is darkness there is sin. “…men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” When there is no light, there is fear. We can’t see. We don’t have any direction. John 12:35 says that “he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” This makes me think of something that happened shortly after I was married. When my husband and I were first married, we lived in an old house. Our bedroom had a fireplace in it. One night, I woke up very thirsty. I wanted to go to the kitchen to get a drink, but I didn’t want to wake up my husband by turning on the light. I was feeling my way to the door. I felt what I thought was the side of the doorway and then open space. I thought it was the open door, so I walked through it. I hit my eye on the corner of the fireplace mantel. My husband woke up! The next day, I had a black eye! I thought I knew the truth about the doorway, but I was wrong. When the light was turned on, I saw the fireplace that I had walked into. I had no direction for that walk to the kitchen.
You may be wondering what any of this has to do with Christmas. Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, when He left heaven and came to earth. Why did He come? In John 10:10 Jesus says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” In Acts 26:18 we read that He came “to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins…” Col 1:12 tells us that He qualifies us “to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” After this, Mt. 5:14-16 tells us that we become light so that we can shine before others, “that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven.”
I Peter 2:9 tells us that He is calling us out of darkness into His marvelous light! The light of Jesus Christ is shining brightly. Won’t you make this Christmas a special one by believing in the Light?! (John 12:35-36)
Drinking at the Springs 