Light has been an important part of the story since the beginning. God’s first recorded words were, “Let there be light.” Did you ever wonder what the light was? He separated it from the darkness and called the light “day,” but He didn’t make the Sun until later, so it wasn’t “day” as we know it. I believe he was talking about revealing His glory and goodness, which He separated from darkness, Satan and evil.
The writers of the Old Testament considered God the light. David wrote, “The Lord is my light” (Psalm 27:1). Isaiah encouraged the people to “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5).
“God is light; in Him is no darkness at all.” The Apostle John tells us this is what Jesus taught his disciples (1 John 1:5). Duh! It seems like common sense. But does everyone really believe it?
Have you ever heard anyone ask, “If God is really good, why would he let this (my loved one die, me lose my job, etc.) happen?” Ever heard a friend say, “I just don’t believe God would send anyone to hell?” These people don’t believe God is light, and in Him there is no darkness.
The first thinks there must be something wrong with God, since bad things happen. Perhaps they have never been taught Satan and sin brought death and destruction into the world. They want to lay this on our good and gracious God.
The second doesn’t understand the holiness, the purity of God. Because they can live among sinful people, because they are sinful people, they can’t grasp that our Heavenly Father cannot have sin in His presence. They don’t understand the sacrifice of our Savior.
Unfortunately, many Christians fall into this second group. They have bought into the lies of Satan – who himself masquerades as an angel of light. Satan’s kingdom is darkness, but he lives in the shadows, slipping in, distorting the light.
God is light. Jesus admitted it when He said, “I AM the light of the world.” Those who believed He was the Messiah got it. Most didn’t. Some even claimed He was from the devil (Matthew 12:24).
God the Father hid the light from mankind. Oh, there were glimpses. Moses beheld the backside of the glory on the mountain. Daniel and Isaiah had visions that peeked through the veil, but for the most part, the light was hidden. Until the light came down to dwell among us.
He didn’t come down as a blinding light, where people fell down as dead. Instead, the light was translated from the language of ultimate, all-powerful glory into flesh and blood, a language we could understand. The light lived among us, showing them just how glory and goodness could be read in the language of humanity – how the glory and goodness could be spread throughout humanity.
“You are the light of the world,” He told his disciples. “A city on a hill can’t be hidden. Let your light shine, so others my see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).
I’m afraid we’ve sung the children’s song too often. “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” Jesus never said anything about us having a little light. He said, “We are the light, and it cannot be hidden.”
Hiding the light, letting it shine, both sound rather passive. I like the way Paul talked about light. “Put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). He could have said, “Put on the tunic of light,” or the “robe of light,” or even “carry a big torch of light.” Instead, he chose armor of light. We aren’t supposed to just sit around and let our little light shine. We are supposed to march that light right into the darkness of an evil kingdom.
Millions of people are trapped in the dark, and our job is to fight our way to them. It was Israel’s job. “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). But, they botched it, turning, instead, to embrace the darkness themselves.
Now, it’s your turn. Will you sit on a hill among all your other Christian friends, hoping the world will see? Will you hide under a basket of worldliness and sin? Or, will you suit up in the armor of light, and head out into a dark and evil world. Will you take the light, so God’s salvation will reach to the ends of the earth?
