John 8:12
In recent days we have continually returned to this verse as this week one of the largest Hindu festivals of the year, Diwali, has been celebrated all over the world. It is popularly known as the festival of lights and is typically a five day festival celebrated with parties, dancing, food, lights, and fireworks. For Hindus this is one of the most important festivals of the year and is traditionally celebrated with ones family. In honor of this holiday, lights are strung up everywhere, appearing similar to Christmas, and candles in clay pots are put all over ones house. The oil from the candles are supposed to represent the triumph of good over evil. In addition these lights are left on over night as a way to make Lakshmi the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, fortune, and beauty to feel welcome in ones home.
In addition to the lights everywhere, fireworks is another huge part of this holiday. Going off during the day some and all through the night. In our city fireworks typically started at dark, 5:30, and continued into the early hours of the morning. The main reason for fireworks is that it is believed to drive away evil spirits, especially ones that would interfere with Lakshmi finding her way.
On the surface level this holiday seems like a lot of fun and in fact if I (Matt) were a Hindu I think that this would be my favorite holiday based on the lights and fireworks alone. But the truth is that this holiday represents the 1.1 billion Hindus in the world that are still walking in darkness as they have yet to follow the true light of the world in Jesus.
Our prayer has been and will continue to be that during this holiday season that the light of this world (Jesus) would make himself known in this dark place. The people are searching, they are already worshipping, but are left with no hope for their future. This has been an eye opening time for us being that it is our first Diwali and we hope that as we live our daily lives that we are able to show the people the light that we follow in Jesus.
