For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of
all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.
(Luke 2:30-32 NIV)
An almost legendary symbol in some of the older movies was the light left burning
in the
window as a silent messenger to tell an estranged loved one that he or she was welcome to
come home. A modern variation on that theme is the popular song from the 70s,
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon". But this theme is much older than that. God
lit a light in His "window" nearly 2000 years ago.
God threw a party at His Son's birth, and sent out two different invitations. The
first took the form of an angelic band sent to bring the happy news to a group of Jewish shepherds. God's chosen people, the Jews,
were being told of the coming of
their long-awaited Messiah. But the rest of humanity, the Gentiles, were
not excluded from the festivities. The second invitation, a star in the heavens,
bore silent witness that God had kept His promise to them as well.
That star truly was the light in God's window. Its message should not be lost today
amidst all the man-made glitter of this season. Its message should especially not be
ignored by Christians. Our loving Father in heaven is still waiting to welcome the
prodigal son (or daughter) home. As He did 2000 years ago, God is still welcoming
both strangers and wayward sons alike to come home.
Christmas is a time for unbelievers to come and adore Him, and embrace Him as Lord and
Savior. But it is also a time for Christians who have left their first love
relationship with Jesus to return home. A birthday party is not much fun to attend
if you're not on speaking terms with the guest of honor. As He promised, Jesus is
ready to forgive and receive those who will truly repent and ask His forgiveness.
If this is your situation, you have everything to gain by coming home. If it isn't,
then why not share this message of hope with someone who needs to hear it? The light
in God's window is still lit!
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