Our Christmas lights are still up, still turned on. Several of our neighbors also have their lights up and burning. Several of us were discussing this phenomenon. Where we live in Scotland it is definitely a marvel because so few people even bother to put up lights or to decorate for Christmas.

We all agreed that with Scotland in a brutal lockdown due to covid, the lights functioned as envoys of hope and cheer. The fact that colored lights spark joy and wonder is explained – as is everything else significant – in the Bible. Jesus is the Light of the World and in Him is no darkness. We gravitate toward light because God’s Spirit is light.

Why colored lights? Jesus created color and flooded the earth with it for our awe and joy. Each petal of every flower in every nuance of shade and shape, Jesus crafted for our enjoyment. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1

I don’t know how long we will leave our lights up, and I don’t know how long our neighbors will leave up theirs. I don’t know what they think as they gaze into the stunning mix of colors and brightness. But I know what my thoughts are: God is in control. Jesus has the victory in life and in death. He has the victory over covid. Humans can attempt to legislate the virus and control it through human means and with human reasoning and intelligence – but victory, the only victory – is from Jesus who died and rose from the dead and lives again in us. His reflection sparkles in the joyful brightness of Christmas lights.