The true Light was coming into the world. The true Light gives light to all.
     - John 1:9

Imagine yourself in a dark gymnasium. Not just a dark gym, but it is pitch black, no light hits the floor of the basketball court or the bleachers. From your back pocket you pull out a picture of a candle. You hold it up hoping to cast some light into the gym. But, of course, a picture of a candle can't light up a room. Only a real, or true candle can do that.


Before God sent his Son Jesus to earth, the world was a very, very dark place. People's lives were very difficult. They worked hard for very little pay. Political oppression, violence, injustice and corruption were everywhere. It was a very, very dark place to live.

 

But then God sent his son, Jesus Christ, into our world to be a light in the darkness. Better said, Jesus came to give us hope in a new way of living. It was a better way of living that instead of despair and pain, it provided hope and salvation. The example of his life of service and love was the light in a dark world.


Today, we live in a dark world where we look for hope, or light, in things (money, cars, toys...stuff) that are unable to brighten on our path. These are not real candles, or lights, and do not offer true hope. If we are looking for true hope, we should look to the one who is our ultimate hope, Jesus Christ. He is the light that shines on our path pointing us to a new and better way of living.

Simply put, Jesus came so that all might live in eternal hope, walking in light and not darkness. That hope is available today and that hope is for everyone.