When a candle is lit or a flashlight is clicked on in a dark room, there’s no area within the light’s vicinity that does not get exposed and become visible. Lamps and candles are placed in rooms that have a need for visibly seeing in the dark.
When light is present, the darkness scatters and illumination is brought forth.
When there is a void of light, and darkness surrounds, fear creeps in. There’s an uncertainty of what is in the room with you. You can’t see where you’re walking, you don’t know where you are. There’s confusion, hesitation, lack of confidence, and disorientation.
We live in a world that is dark and the evil that lurks around every corner can seem insurmountable. We can feel alone, we can be afraid, and we can feel like we don’t know where we’re going. We can be confused, disoriented, and skeptical. (John 12:35) Darkness may seem like it has won all around us.
Until we hold it to the light of truth.
“Light illuminates. It exposes whatever is in the dark and brings it to the surface.”
~ Jackie Hill Perry
Light defeats the power and effect of darkness.
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
God is light, and He is truth. And we can hold on to that truth knowing He is trustworthy and He is stable - that His very Word is trustworthy and stable. We were once a people who walked in darkness but have now seen a great light! (Isaiah 9:2) His truth brings us into the light. (John 3:21)
And because God is light, that same light exposes our sin and weaknesses that are shrouded in darkness and brings it to the surface. Because God cannot partner with darkness. (2 Corinthians 6:14b)
LIGHT THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE
From the beginning of creation, light was there. It was the first action that God performed.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:1-4 ESV
Light throughout scripture was used as imagery for a metaphor of freedom from sin.
God used light to speak to Moses through the burning bush and led the Israelites out of Egypt by a pillar of fire at night. (Exodus 3)
When the wise men traveled to find a King, they followed the light of the star and the shepherds were approached by the light of the angels. (Matthew 2, Luke 2:1-20)
Prophecy foretold of a light shining in the darkness: “the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16
Light brings clarity. It leads direction. It illuminates. It is pure.
Light scatters the darkness away.
JESUS IS LIGHT
When Jesus came to the world, a star shone brightly over His dwelling place announcing hope and light to this dark world. The hope of salvation; a King coming to free all men from slavery of sin.
Jesus is the light of the world. (John 8:12, John 9:5) And He claimed to be that light as the hope of the world.
“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” John 12:46
Throughout Jesus’s ministry, He brought enlightenment to all around Him - literally and spiritually.
His words brought clarity and illuminated even the most stubborn of men. He remained pure and holy the entire duration of His life on earth and stayed blameless and holy - setting an example to all.
Jesus’ ministry continued to bring light to everyone - both around Him and from afar. To the Pharisees, He exposed the darkness of their rigid heart. To the woman at the well, He shared the hope of salvation. To the blind man, He brought light into his world and gave him sight. To the disciples, He led the way and guided them every step of their journey.
He spoke of being the Light of the World (John 8:12). Coming to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Bringing the hope of salvation.
At Jesus’s death, light seemed to have been extinguished. Death seemed to have won.
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabacthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”” Matthew 27:45-46
But hope was not lost on that day. If anything, that darkness showed the great need for HIS light.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
When Jesus rose at the dawn of a new day, the light probably felt different in the atmosphere to all around because darkness no longer had won.
Light had stepped down from eternity to shine bright to all those held captive by darkness and spoke the words, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You
~ Here I Am to Worship by Time Hughes
Jesus makes us able to walk in the light and to be HIS light.
WE ARE CALLED TO BE LIGHT
While we were once dead in sin, we have been made alive in Christ! (Colossians 2:13) Now that we are no longer walking in the dark, we have become children of light! (1 Thess 5:5)
There is an activity with light - because where there is darkness, you actively need to turn on the light. You don’t sit in the darkness, you take action to bring clarity of your surroundings.
As Jesus proclaimed that He is light, He also said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
We are called to be lights. We are called to be a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Lamps shining bright and not hidden under a basket but on a stand that illuminates all in the house. (Matthew 5:14-15, Luke 11:33-36, Eph 5:5-15)
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
We are called to be vessels of light. To be pure and holy and blameless. To bring hope into this dark world. We can’t hoard the light but we are to hold it up for all to see!
His light within us is righteousness - it can only come from the Father and not be attained by our vain glory. But it is for HIS glory that we hold our lamps high.
“Don’t shine so others can see you, shine that others can see Him through you.”
~ C.S. Lewis
“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining - they just shine.” ~ D.L. Moody
And as lights, we cannot remain in the darkness or partner with it (John 12:46). For we are now children of light. (1 Thess 5:5, 1 Peter 2:9)
“‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness, how great is the darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23
“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed.” John 3:20
We are called to be lights of the world but we need to be filled with the oil in our lamps in order to keep the lights burning. (Matthew 25)
“For it is You who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.” Psalm 18:28
So be light, my friend. Shine bright for the glory of God! Don’t lose hope, for our precious Savior has defeated the darkness! Death has lost its sting and we have the hope of salvation. And we are to share that hope to all the world.
“For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6
~ Kissy Black