Lyrics
Verse 1
Once we were in darkness we were wand'ring souls
Sailing the stormy seas longing for
A ray of hope to light our pathway
And save us from ourselves and lead us on to life
But then You came
A lowly babe
A beacon from the final shore to lead the way
Chorus
Oh heaven's light shining from above
Emmanuel the living God with us
No longer will we fear the deepest darkest night
Now and forever we live in heaven's light
Verse 2
Since You came our lives have been forever changed
You left heaven's paradise to know our pain
Oh love divine to meet us where we are
And save us from ourselves and lead us on to life
But then You came
A lowly babe
A beacon from the final shore to lead the way
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This Christmas song describes the coming of Christ as light arriving for people who were lost. The first verse looks back on "wand'ring souls" sailing stormy seas and longing for "a ray of hope," and then turns with the line "But then You came," naming the Savior as "a lowly babe" and a beacon from the final shore.
The chorus gives the central image, "Oh heaven's light shining from above," and ties it to Emmanuel, the living God with the believers. Because of that light, the dark night no longer brings fear, and the song ends the chorus by claiming life "now and forever" in heaven's light.
The second verse looks at the cost of the incarnation, saying that Christ left heaven's paradise to know human pain and meet people where they are. The imagery of darkness and light is close to the prophet Isaiah's words about a great light for those who walked in darkness, and to the Gospel of John's description of light shining in the dark.
Related Scripture
- Isaiah 9:2 People who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
- John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
- Matthew 1:23 The child is named Emmanuel, God with us.