Mathew 2: 1-2 reads, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
This star was planned, created, and set into motion, not on that Christmas day, but before then. It’s shape, position, brightness, movement and declaration were not by accident, but by and through the word of God. The star was there for all to see it,wise men, kings, humble servants, shepherds, mothers, children and more. Only those who knew Him, and had studied His word recognized its light as significant and holy.
Out of all the signs that were possible, why a star to represent the birth of the baby Jesus? I don’t know what that star looked like, or how the wise men used a star in the heavens, millions of light years away to direct their path. But I do know that God used that light, and planned for Jesus Christ’s births eons before it took place. It was a star used to celebrate the light (Jesus Christ) which was born into the world that day. It was no accident. Jesus Christ is the light of the world and we too have been given a light, His light, to shine within us.
Did you ever notice the scripture, “Let you light so shine.”
The verse does not instruct us to turn on our light, or to brighten our light, it does not request us to clean off our light. It simply requests us to let our light shine. Unlike a temporal light source that requires turning on, engaging, or creating combustion; the light within us is always aglow, if we let it shine.
That light within us is the light of Jesus Christ. It is a gift of our mortal life, a piece of heaven provided to guide and direct our mortal sojourn back to our Father in Heaven. I once had a dream about the light of Christ. In my mind the light was represented by a clear and brightly glowing marble that resided inside my chest. It was beautiful and represented my agency, or ability to choose. Without going into my entire dream, the lesson I learned is that the gift of choice is more important than any other responsibility, obligation or relationship. The light of Christ is the gift of agency.
President Uchdorf, member of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints so eloquently shares testimony about God’s expansive universe and our place of importance in His majestic work of salvation.
“Astronomers have attempted to count the number of stars in the universe. One group of scientists estimates that the number of stars within range of our telescopes is 10 times greater than all the grains of sand on the world’s beaches and deserts. This conclusion has a striking similarity to the declaration of the ancient prophet Enoch: “Were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations.”
“This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.”
Did you catch that? He said, “we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast.” That burning is the light of Christ. Just as a bright star celebrated the birth of He would provide an ultimate Atonement for our salvation, he has gifted us with an individual gift of light to shine.
Music Pulls My Heart Towards God
My piano teacher was Pat Graham, compiler/director/writer of the Children’s Song Book. For nearly 12 years I studied music at her home. More importantly that understanding notes and rhythm, oh how I despised counting, I learned spirit. I felt her desire to serve, and to create musician servants, those who would use music to honor God. She wrote a beautiful children’s primary song called, “I am like a star shining brightly.” In its simple message, even the tiniest kids can feel and know that happiness comes from being bright.
“I am like a star shining brightly,
Smiling for the whole world to see.
I can do and say happy things each day,
For I know Heav’nly Father loves me.”
Lastly, another favorite song is a Christmas hymn written for children entitled, “Stars Were Gleaming,” by Nancy Turner. As a small child I remember sitting in our primary room, on the second floor of the Garden Park Ward. The tiny chairs were filled with miniature people, we were learning to bear testimony and to feel the spirit through music. This song pulls at my heart. It’s longing melody extracts the most reverent feelings of awe, gratitude and fortitude for faith. I can almost sense the hillside in ancient Bethlehem filled with majestic angels singing praises to the baby Jesus.
“Stars were gleaming, shepherds dreaming;
And the night was dark and chill.
Angels’ story rang with glory;
Shepherds heard it on the hill.
Ah, that singing! Hear it ringing,
Earthward winging, Christmas bringing!
Hearken! We can hear it still!”
My second gift of Christmas is the gift of shining brightly.
To me, shining is being yourself, you who were created in perfection by a loving Father in Heaven. Shining means finding happiness in small and simple pleasures. Shining means celebrating your season, whatever that may be. Shining means having courage to reach outside your comfort zone in business, in family, in faith, in friends. Shining means being willing to work hard to improve, to learn and to grow. Shining means allowing the full measure of the atonement to sanctify, to cleanse, to heal and to give hope despite difficult circumstances.
We too, like the baby Jesus, have been born for a great purpose. I believe we can come to know that purpose, and fulfill that important work as we let our light shine.
