THE LIGHT HAS COME

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

Wonderful Counsellor, mighty God among us,
Everlasting Father, Prince who rules in peace;
To us a Child is born, to us a Son is giv’n.
To those who walked in darkness
The Light has come.

Son of God, Son of Man, Word of God incarnate,
Suffering Saviour, glorious risen Lord;
For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son;
No more we walk in darkness –
The Light has come.

King of kings, Lord of lords, Son of God exalted,
Name above ev’ry name, Lamb upon the throne;
This King will come again, the Father’s only Son;
No more a world in darkness –
The Light will come.

Based on the words of Isaiah the prophet, (Isaiah 9: 6,7) this song leads us into the truth of Christmas, using the many names that have been accorded to God’s Son, Jesus. In different circumstances of our lives, we may choose to focus more on one of these names than another. First, we claim Him as Saviour; in times of conflict and confusion, we want to know He is the Prince of Peace; acknowledging our need of His control in our disarrayed lives, we surrender to Him as Lord of lords. Always, He brings light.

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In an interview with Captain Nesan Kistan, Chick Yuill, the song’s author, describes himself as a passionate Jesus follower who wants to help churches to minister as “whole life disciple-making communities”. He is a Salvationist who served as an officer, with his wife, Margaret, for thirty-five years, but who now freelances as a speaker, writer and broadcaster to inspire others with his passion. His song-writing is just one of his contributions to the Christian church of today.