“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” (Gen. 1:1-2).

Friends, how important and essential is “light” to life? Without light, all forms of life would not be possible. The first of God’s twelve “creation” commands was “Let there be light!” (v 3… c.f. 1:1-26). In the creation account of Genesis, each time God gave a command there was immediate compliant action. And so, the action “…and there was light” was the result of God’s first command.

Human life is dependent on two types of light, physical and spiritual. Both are essential for life. One is essential for temporal life on earth, and the other is essential for eternal life, on earth… and in Heaven.

Physical Light: Wherever we choose to live, “light” is essential… we cannot live without it!  Genesis records that when God separated the light from the darkness, He called the light “day” and the darkness “night” (vv. 4-5). Although humankind is glad for natural physical light given by the sun, moon, and celestial stars, they developed other sources of light (candles, kerosene lanterns, electric lights, etc.) to enable them to see into the night. We all agree that light is essential to life and is preferred over darkness. And so, we are glad that God “separated” light from the darkness (v. 4). 

Spiritual Light: As God is Spirit, we cannot see Him in physical light. God is our Heavenly Father, and, through Christ, we are His children… His Family! And, our Father desires for us, His children, to see Him as He is!

God created us with physical and spiritual dimensions (2:7). Prior to the entry of sin into the world, Adam and Eve fellowshipped with God. However, when they sinned “their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So, they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the manand his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So, they hid from the Lord God among the trees (3:7-8). Their physical eyes had been opened to sin and their spiritual eyes were closed to God and holiness.

Where God had once separated light from the darkness in the world He had created, sin separated human life from God and extinguished their spiritual light. Humanity was thrown into a state of darkness. In a state of spiritual blindness they were no longer able to see as God had created them to see. They were left to stumble through life with sin-darkened minds. Proverbs says, “But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over (4:19).

While sin separated us from God and left us spiritually blind, God came to our rescue through sending His Son, Jesus, into our world to “reconnect” us to Him, gifting us with eternal life and restoring our spiritual sight! Concerning “those who showed interest in Jesus”, John wrote, “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you will not have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (8:12). And, “concerning those who decided to follow Jesus”, Paul said, “For he [Jesus] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedomand forgave our sins” (Col. 1:13-14).

Friends, our world continues to plummet deeper and deeper into the dark abyss of sin. Nations and families are discovering new ways of harming each other. Although humankind desires peace; chaos, destruction, and loss of lives on a large scale is the fruit of their blindness. Two thousand years ago, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied before the birth of Jesus, “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace” (Lk. 1:78-79).

In essence, “the morning light of heaven” is what the world desperately needs right now, not some time later. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world!” (Jn. 9:5) … “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they seethat they are blind” (v. 39) “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light” (Lk. 11:35-36). 

In the Book of Revelation, it was revealed to the Apostle John that the New Jerusalem, the eternal home of repentant, redeemed and restored sinners, “… has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light…” (21:23-24). Wow! A city aglow 24/7 with dazzling, delightful, divine light!

Being acutely aware of life’s spiritual darkness, David praised God, saying…“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Ps.119:105). Friends, there is no stumbling in life on earth in marriages, parenting, politics, or anywhere else for those who choose to follow the Light. 

Best wishes,  
Bill