It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and even in Malaysia we have already seen some amazing Christmas decorations. But, I couldn’t help but be a bit sick when I saw the Christmas lights. Before the race, the Christmas lights were symbols of Christmas time, and even of Jesus and how He lights up the darkness. In Thailand however… They gained a much darker symbolism.
While in Thailand we noticed several buildings that were decorated with Christmas lights, but this was in October? Our hosts informed us later that the Christmas lights were a sign of a brothel. Behind those beautiful lights, women were hypnotized into believing their bodies were worth nothing. They were trapped and tricked into believing they were worth nothing. And I vowed to never view those lights the same again.
This month our host shared a story with us about the growth he has seen in Malaysia. The small town The Lord called him too was filled with darkness both physically and spiritually. It was literally pitch black outside their home and in their neighborhood. But he began praying for the light of the world to show up. It wasn’t safe for him to just evangelize. So he had to be the light himself. He prayed each day and declared light over his town, and soon outside there began to be giant lights on his street. He had been praying for the light of Christ, but God showed up in the physical as well. And you guessed it, those lights were shaped like Christmas lights.
So this month, Christmas lights are being redeemed in my eyes. Even the best of things can be corrupted and given a dark meaning, but Jesus has the power to redeem it. Whatever it is in your life that has been turned to darkness, the light will overcome it.
John 1:5 NLT
[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
