I have always pictured light dispelling the darkness at creation as a bright, full-bodied flame, twirling into existence like the flame that leaps off a struck match in a dark room.
 
Light dispels darkness. Darkness cannot cover up light.
 
Which is why we use flashlights to find our way at the campground. We place security lights around our home. We decorate with Christmas lights. We turn on overhead lights in a dark room so that we do not trip over unseen objects. We drive safely at high speeds in the dark because we have headlights on our vehicles.
 
Light dispels darkness. The absence of light is not equal to light.
 
We associate darkness with confusion, chaos, and fear. Worse than physical darkness is spiritual darkness. Darkness is used to capture the biblical concepts of ignorance, evil, sin, and even separation from God. These are some of the realities of spiritual darkness.
 
Two thousand years ago, Jesus stood in the Temple and declared Himself to be the ultimate answer to all the spiritual realities of darkness, saying…

“I am the Light of the world; 
he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness,
but will have the Light of life.”
John 8:12

Jesus spent three hours on the cross in darkness. He paid the penalty for our sin. He was buried and rose again, victorious over sin, death, and Satan. You might say, “He rose victorious over darkness.” He is “THE Light,” not simply “a light.”

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He forgives our sins and offers us eternal life. Not only does He offer eternal life free from the dark loneliness of hell but He offers His life to lead us here on earth.
 
May the lights of this earthly holiday season point your heart and mind to Jesus Christ, the Light of the world! May you treasure Him as you recall Him taking on humanity that He might redeem us. May you celebrate by walking with Him in the Light.
 
Love and blessings,
Dave