Glory to Arise and Shine

It is the Christmas season! A time when the entire world decorates with lights both inside and outside. Little do most people realize the significance of those lights. Lights on a dark night can be seen from a long ways off. Each light, no matter how small cuts through all darkness.

Genesis 1:3

And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

From the beginning of time as we know it, there has been light. As humans we are drawn to all kinds of light; we love sunlit rooms, we love to feel the sun upon our face, we look up at a starry sky in awe, we are willing to drive distances to see incredible Christmas lights. God created us with goodness and we are naturally drawn to His goodness. Light attracts light. God created our bodies to be able to see in the light. All things are exposed in the light. Light is a property that shines, illuminates and exposes.

Proverbs 4:18

But the path of the just (righteous) is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day.

Without our mind realizing it, yet our spirit knows it to be true, we associate light with glory and glory with the Lord. It is a biblical truth, it's God's Kingdom design. If you read testimonies about people who have gone to heaven every single one of them talks about the brilliance of Jesus. How His face is illuminated and radiates. And scripture tells us how the face of Moses was radiating light after spending time in the presence of God. The properties of the Lord change physical properties as we know them. God's glory is so intense, and so pure, that His glory actually changes physical properties. His glory illuminates both physically and figuratively.

Isaiah 60:1

Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you.

From the creation of Adam and Eve, the Father has been shining His glory upon us. He created us to be in intentional relationship with Him. He shines His light upon us to give us His favor and He wants to spotlight us as His favorites upon this earth. He is such a proud Father that He wants everyone to know that we are His favored child. His glory and brilliance has risen upon us. Notice that it already has risen, this is past tense. It's already taken place. It's not something that we have to work towards. As we realize that God's glory has already been shining upon us, that realization needs to make us arise and shine.

Many sayings that the world has go back to scripture. Most of us, at least in America, know the phrase "rise and shine." We associate that with a parent trying to get their child out of bed for the day. And the reality is that this is scripture. The scripture above tells us to arise and shine. So each time anyone on this earth says to "rise and shine" they are declaring the glory and brilliance of the Lord over that person! How beautiful, how incredible! Sometimes we partner with God's Kingdom design and we don't even realize it. But whether we realize it or not, it doesn't change God's design. In this same way we have to be careful about partnering with darkness and thing of the enemy; whether we realize it or not, we can partner with darkness. Our intent doesn't change God's Kingdom design.

Many people love the Christmas season because they say it's "magical." When in reality, they are sensing the glory of God in the air. Because this season is all about the birth of Jesus, God's glory coming to earth and ushering in a New Covenant between us and Him, the physical properties in the atmosphere around us change. God's children start to celebrate this season and partner with the glory and brilliance of God without even realizing it. But realizing it or not, it's what people are doing. And such a beautiful spiritual atmosphere creates opportunities for the gospel to be spread because people are open to the truth of God's light.

John 8:12

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

The Light of Jesus transforms people and places because His glory changes all physical properties. And whether people know it or not, they are attracted to this Light. They are so attracted to it that they hang their own lights up, inside and outside their homes, because they are compelled to display the Light of Jesus due to the spiritual atmosphere of the season. And some people go crazy with their light displays and are willing to pay hundreds of extra dollars in electricity costs to display those lights. It's the Holy Spirit compelling them to come into His light and be His light.

This season is a beautiful reminder that God's glory should always be on display in our lives. We should always be radiating with brilliance for God's Kingdom. We need to be ever mindful about partnering with God's every instruction because He is glory and splendor and worthy of it ALL!

Revelation 21:10-11

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a vast and lofty mountain, and showed me the holy (sanctified) city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having God’s glory [filled with His radiant light]. The brilliance of it resembled a rare and very precious jewel, like jasper, shining and clear as crystal.

Each time God has shone Himself, whether a physical attribute of Himself or one in a vision, His glory and brilliance is present because that is a part of Him. You can't separate God's glory from Him. He is radiant Light. Our lives need to reflect His brilliance. Our spirit cries out this time of year to reflect His glory, which often comes out in the form of Christmas lights because we don't know how else to express the desire to reflect Him and partner with His glory.

As we enter into our Christmas season, I encourage you to take time to reflect on Light in your life. How important is Light to you? Are you constantly be drawn to sources of light? How often do you reflect the glory of the Lord in comparison to be drawn to light? Do you need to make more of an effort to reflect God's glory to the people around you in daily life?

The glory of the Father is already shining down upon you. It's time for you to Arise and Shine for Him!

Merry Christmas! God's richest blessings to you this season!