“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you,” urges the Prophet Isaiah (60:1-2).

“For look, darkness covers the earth, and total darkness the peoples,” he continues. We don’t need to be told that evil and spiritual darkness pervades our culture and our world. We see its evidence everywhere! Murder, mass shootings, terrorism, bombings, refugees, famine, rape, theft, physical brutality, drug abuse, pornography, racism, natural disasters and debilitating illness scream out from today’s headlines.

Note the double imperative Isaiah uses. “Arise!” Get up, and get moving! There’s work to be done. Go … into all the world. We have been given a mission, a calling: “Shine!”

Like Christmas lights twinkling on a dark December night, there is something about us that should beckon others to “come and see.” We’re to illuminate the path to the Savior. “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful works among all the peoples,” Psalm 96:3 charges us.

When our children were smaller, we used to take them to a drive-through Christmas lights display at Roper Mountain, which is actually more of a large hill in Greenville, the city where we then lived. One warm December evening—or so we thought—we put down the top on my convertible so we could get a better look at the twinkling lights.

Faintly at first, but growing steadily stronger as we wound around the tour grounds, we heard a crackling sound coming through the woods. “It’s sleeting!” my kids screamed. We were soon pelted by ice. The car’s top went up very quickly, and the light show came to a hasty end.

The world will do its best at times to throw cold water on our light display. But we mustn’t let that dampen our spirits: “For your light has come!” we joyfully exclaim with Isaiah. That’s the good news a world filled with darkness most needs to hear: “Joy to the world the Lord has come.”

“(T)he Lord will shine over you and His glory will appear over you,” Isaiah encouraged the people of Zion. He foresaw a coming physical restoration and rebuilding of the holy city of God, yet a long-awaited spiritual restoration would come as well. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Wise men would one night be drawn by a star shining in the East, and shepherds on a Bethlehem hillside would hear angels sing of the glory of God’s salvation for all peoples.

In many cities and towns across Kentucky, lighted decorations—wreaths, reindeer, Santas, silver bells, candy canes and tin soldiers—are hung on light poles this time of year. The base motivation may be crass commercialism, getting people into a holiday giving (shopping) mood, but just driving down Main Street, the brightly colored ornaments lift our spirits and fill children with holiday glee and anticipation.

Shouldn’t it be that way whenever someone passes us on the street? Our light shines brightly, and the beauty of our hearts makes them long to know the source of our lasting joy: the Christ child born in Bethlehem. Borrowing Isaiah’s words (9:6), we sing out: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

In the prologue to his Gospel, John announces the arrival of “the light of men.” He writes, “That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. … The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:4,9).

A former editor of Western Recorder, Chauncey Daley, years ago said it well, “Simply put, the good news is that One came from heaven to be our Savior from sin, our Light (in the darkness) …, our Guide in the earthly pilgrimage. This good news set the angels to singing, the shepherds to praising and the wise men to searching.”

Rejoice, for your Light has come. And, because of who He is, that light now shines in us, beckoning others. Arise and shine!