Name Above All Names – The Names of God Advent Study – {Week Two)

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2.

The Plaza Lighting Ceremony is one of Kansas City’s most treasured traditions. For the past 90 years, people fill the plaza streets in anticipation of watching a local celebrity flip a switch that turns on 80 miles of lights. When that switch is flipped, it is officially the Christmas season in Kansas City. It is our way of announcing the most wonderful time of the year. It takes over 200,000 bulbs to create light in the Plaza’s darkness; however, the Light of the World shines naturally.

Light of the World

Good versus evil and dark versus light are common themes in heroic stories. Some of our most loved movies play out this war on the screen. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars are stories where we try to resolve the conflict between good and evil. We often see the characters who represent good wearing white or light clothing and the evil villain decked out in black or dark attire.

We live in a dark world full of lies, hate, and deception. But God’s Word tells us to cast off this darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12) We don’t have the power to create light where none exists, but God did just that. The world began in darkness; there was no light until God created it.

Within each of us lies darkness, a shadow cast upon our souls by sin. But the arrival of a baby born in a manger will overcome this darkness, will shine light into us through salvation, and this undeserved gift is named Jesus.

Did you know the Bible references light over two hundred times? Just like we watch our favorite movies to experience the stories of good overcoming evil, we crave to know God so we can live hoping to see a brilliant light dawning over the shadows of darkness in our world.

The sun will no longer be your light by day, and the brightness of the moon will not shine on you. The LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not fade: for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will be over. Isaiah 60:19-20.

What does your future look like? When you envision your future, do you imagine it unfolding with every best-case scenario? A tomorrow where you lose the weight, get the promotion, and own all the toys? I get it. I daydream of this life as well. BUT….. the Light of the World, the advent of God, came to give us a future more significant than anything you could ever dream up on your own. A future where there will be no more night. A place to live where no lamp is required. The Light of the World, the Lord God, will give us light, and He will reign over darkness forever and ever.

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:5

Morning Star

I call it the 3 a.m. heebie-jeebies. The thoughts swirl around my mind, unearthing and arousing a slew of anxiety and apprehension. As a horror reel of worst-case scenarios plays out in my mind, I lie paralyzed, unsure what is real and what is deception.

It is always darkest before the dawn – Thomas Fuller

According to Google, the morning star is not a star at all, but the planet Venus. It is Venus’ constant glowing light that precedes the sun, which gives it the title of the morning star. The title or name of Jesus, as written in Revelation 22:16, introduces the Messiah as the bright Morning Star, the light of salvation to all.

(Did you know Jupiter and Saturn Will Align to Create the First “Christmas Star” in Nearly 800 Years this year? Read more about it, HERE.)

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. Revelation 22:16

He was who the prophets had prophesied. He is what God promised the nations. His coming is a hope long awaited for. He is the dawn of a new day.

We, too, long for a new day as we live in the tension of the now and the not-yet. As we celebrate the first coming of Christ, we can praise God for hope realized. In anticipation of the Morning Star dawning once again in His second coming, we can use this middle of the night moment as a holy awakening, to spend time in God’s light.

The 3 am heebie-jeebies have stopped now. Through the process of Biblical meditation and prayer, my mind can rely upon the bright Morning Star to shine into the dark places at any hour of the day. The darkness doesn’t get the final say. God does.

(I recommend this book: Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus by Sarah Geringer found HERE).

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

One of my favorite Christmas carols is O Holy Night. In this carol, we experience the joy that reflects the Light of the World as we sing laud for humanity’s redemption.

On one holy night, in Bethlehem’s small town, the virgin Mary birthed the Light of the Word—a bright Morning Star—and placed Him in a manger. This baby would illuminate the way out of darkness for all of humanity.

A Sign

The twinkling lights of the Plaza, the lights strung around your Christmas tree, or the candles we light on our Advent wreaths—let these be reminders of Jesus, the Light of the World.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being our everlasting light and for sending your Son to earth as a gift to humanity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you missed week one, you can check it out HERE.

Join me next week as we look at the names of Christ, which inspired some of our favorite Christmas Carols!