The Night Before Christmas
Here we are. The night before Christmas. The time is now "full." For centuries, the world was in the dark, waiting for the promise of a deliverer. And tonight, that anticipation became a glorious, physical reality.
The final devotion leading up to Christmas Day must focus on the certainty of Christ as the Light overcoming the ultimate darkness.
John 1:5 (KJV) beautifully summarizes the entire Nativity: "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
The moment Christ was born, the light began to shine. This wasn't a tentative light, but a brilliant, powerful radiance that darkness cannot stop. The word "comprehended" in this verse also carries the meaning of "to grasp" or "to overcome." The darkness could not grasp it, and it could not overcome it.
This is the ultimate confidence of Christmas Eve!
The long night of waiting is over. The long night of sin and separation is finished for those who believe. The Light has arrived! The baby in the manger is the Light of the World.
Tonight, as you settle down and prepare for the celebration, embrace this truth:
Christ is the Certainty: All the prophecies, all the journeys, all the angelic announcements have converged on this moment. The promise is true. The Savior is here.
Darkness is Defeated: Whatever fear, worry, or anxiety you have carried this season, remember the darkness cannot win. The Light is shining, and your Savior holds the victory.
My challenge for you tonight is to pause. Find a quiet moment to sit and reflect on the fact that tomorrow, you will celebrate the physical arrival of Almighty God. Let the anticipation not be just for a morning of gifts, but for the profound truth that your Light has broken through.
Let your heart be filled with that "thrill of hope." Let's thank the Lord for His faithfulness and prepare our hearts to welcome the greatest gift of all: the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Tomorrow, the joy is complete.