See the Bright Lights
When the earth was sufficiently dried after the great flood, God spoke to Noah, saying, Go out of the
ark; take everybody and every living thing with you. thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with
thee. Standing again on solid dry ground, Noah built an altar unto the LORD, taking of every clean beast and
fowl and offering burnt offerings on the altar.
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and He said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any
more for man’s sake; While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and
winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)
Just a comment in passing: You may be experiencing a cold wintery blast upon your soul right now …
and it may be a dismally dark night where you are, but just remember―weeping may endure for the night, but
joy is coming in the morning. Day and night shall not cease.
Seasons change because of God’s promise. So, this morning I’m going to the garage to survey the
myriad of labeled boxes neatly arranged by Felipe. I’m looking for boxes labeled Christmas Lights [I know it’s
much faster to use the abbreviation Xmas Lights, but no! Too many cross Christ out of their lives, and I want
Him noticeably prominent in mine … even in my garage]. I want the cross of Jesus to always be evident in
my―Ach, no. This is a devotion, not a sermon, so I must move on.
I’ve been thinking about this Christmas decoration thing. You know, stringing lights, hanging Walmart-
special icicles made of plastic, garlands of greenery made of plastic, all of that will take time, energy, and
money in a futile attempt to re-create what God does … just because He is God. Think about it. He doesn’t have
a garage full of boxes labeled Icicles; and boxes of little Twinkly Stars on a string that will blink on and off
when plugged in. And … but lest you think my name is spelled G R I N C H, I’ll just tell you that while I really
do love the bright lights of the twinkly little stars, and I am thrilled when my automobile is loaded with excited
squealing great-grandbabies, and grands, and those with grey in their hair who are also grand.
Wrapped in warm fuzzy blankets, coats, and mittens, someone begins singing Joy to the World the Lord
Has Come. Something in my heart swells with gladness and appreciation for the faithfulness of Almighty God.
Even when the reality of our ‘plastic’ world prompts some tiny little voice from the back-seat arms of Mommy
to shout, “Let’s sing Here Comes Sandy Claus,” but nays out-vote the yays, and soon the car is filled with “O
Come, All Ye Faithful.”
And my spirit wants to sing the verse that declares,
For He alone is worthy,
For He alone is worthy,
For He alone is worthy,
Christ the Lord.”
And, in for a penny, in for a pound, Poppa adds a very enthusiastic, “Ahh-men.”
Poppa–I mean, Francis Mason
Pastor Mason