And there was Light!

     As we begin to enter the season of Advent it might be appropriate to stop and think about what this season is all about.  Advent is a season prior to Christmas when we consider the "Coming" of Christ.  Advent comes from the Latin word that means Coming, Appearance, Arrival, Invasion or Visitation.  I like the word Invasion for in captures the nature of the forceful coming of light into the darkness of this world.
The gospel of John chapter one verse five says, "The light shines in (Invaded) the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it."  This light that invaded the darkness was the person of Jesus.  Verse four says, "In Him was life and this life was the light of men."  Yes, Jesus was the person through whom light invaded the darkness of our world those thousands of years ago, in the hill country of Judea in Israel.
     The purpose of this invasion of Light was so that darkness might be dispelled - not so much in the natural order but in the hearts of people.  When the light of Jesus comes into the heart of a person they become freed from the power of that darkness. Colossians One thirteen says it this way:  "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His dear Son."  That doesn't mean that we immediately walk free from every areas of our life that has bound us.  But it does mean that we can walk free.  Sometimes we remain bound in areas of darkness because we choose to remain bound.  That is to say, God always delivers us from our enemies, but sometimes I have not yet called an area of darkness in our life "an enemy."  Until we get to the place of recognizing the area of darkness and calling it what it actually is, we can remain bound to it.  But as soon as we call that area of darkness what it actually is and cry out, God immediately liberates us from that place where we have been bound.
     Ephesians chapter five verse eight and nine places our deliverance in the past tense.  It says, "You were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light."  Light begins to establish our new identity.  We are already children of light, that is our position in Christ and at the same time we are becoming children of light.  Both are true.

Remember: Light has invaded the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it.

As you walk through this season of Advent remember we have been Invaded by Light.
Jesus is the Light of the world who has invaded our darkness.
Let Jesus have his way in your life.
He will deliver us from every power of darkness.
As he comes to live his Live in us He becomes a game changer.  We become carriers of the Light.

Now He says, "You are the Light of the World.  A city set upon a hill cannot be hidden.  Let your light so shine that people may see your good works and give honor to your Father in the Heavens." Matt. 5:14