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On that promised night 2000 years ago, the magnificent star which shone brightly as a sign of our Savior’s birth brought wise men from the East to worship Him. It was a miraculous light, unlike any star before or after – one of a kind like the Son of God Himself. He came to bring light to a dark world, hope to a lost humanity, and peace to hearts torn by conflicting desires, needs and beliefs. God has used the heavenlies to declare His glory throughout the centuries and promises to give us celestial signs and wonders portending the second coming of Christ as well.

Light is used to bring beauty to our world in so many ways. The brilliant light of our starry sky, especially viewed far from city lights, awes our imagination – infinite glistening diamonds strewn across the great canopy of space by the hand of God and imbued with miraculous multi-faceted rays. The more we stare into space, the more the constellations dazzle our vision. The moon, that ever changing illuminated sphere, is a radiant orb one night, and but a mere crescent silver lining on another. And how have You flung the shooting stars that cast bursts of star dust in their temporary trails? For those lucky few privileged to experience the mystifying aurora, the Northern lights fill the polar sky with iridescent hues transforming the night into an electrifying kaleidoscope. Lord, what were You thinking when You splashed the heavenlies with this wonder of Your brilliance?

And when the day dawns and our earthly star rises, it lightens our world and all that is in it. No two skies are ever alike as each day God adorns our atmosphere with a new tapestry of color and clouds in motion. What will the weather be today — rain, or storms, or wind or snow? Will the sun be bright or blocked from view? Weathermen pretend to know, yet their prognostications constantly change with the whims of the Creator’s weather artistry. None can fathom the heavenlies like our omniscient Creator – He declared “let there be light,” and there was light!

Are you not awed by His illuminations? He hung the quintessential star to proclaim the birth of our Savior! Are you not humbled by His pronunciation in the sky? Are you not moved to praise Him for the majesty of His Son? Thank you, Jesus, for Your light! Illuminate my world. Transform my darkness into Your light and shine in me. Illuminate my heart and let my life shine on the lives of others.

As the skies heralded the humble arrival of the Christ child, so shall all who are transformed by His light look heavenward to see the signs of His second coming in power and might. Jesus Himself spoke of His return quoting Isaiah the prophet: “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Matthew. 24:29 – 31, Isaiah 13:10, 34:4

While anticipating His grand descent and our transforming ascent to meet Him in the air, we covet His perfect radiance. In contrast, our artificial lights and glitter of Christmas celebrations are but a dim imitation of the brilliant star which graced the manger birth. May the eternal Star of Bethlehem illuminate your Christmas!