Growing up as a child, I did not like to be in the dark (and I’m sure it’s true for many of you too).
I remember when it was time for bed, I would run down the hallway in the dark to get to my room, so I could quickly switch on the light……my bedroom was at the end of this seemingly un-ending long hallway. It felt eary, scary and uncertain. It was this dark pace where my imagination would go wild, creating and imagining things that did not exist.
As adults we of course know that these imaginations are not true, and that there is and never has been a scary, lurking, thing in the dark…….we know, that the dark is just the absence of light.
In the world we live in today, however, darkness comes in other forms. The lack of light, or rather the abundance of darkness is an indication of the level of evil or dark forces in the world. This darkness has since the beginning of time grown in power, deceving many, destroying lives, twisting the truth and attempt to cause havoc on the lives of God’s people, you, me, and everyone else.
These are the things that happen in the “spirit-realm”, the unseen world – although we see the effects of what happens in the spirit-realm manifest in our daily lives, or to the people around us.
But we need not worrry, because there is a light in the world that is stronger and more powerful than anyone one or anything in existance – in fact, the darkness knows that THIS light rules over ALL!!
Lets have a look at this amazing Light (Our Lord Jesus), grab a cup of coffee / tea / water and let’s get started.
AN INTRODUCTION TO LIGHT
God’s Word is full of references about light. If you spend some time reading your Bible, you will find these golden wisdom nuggets everywhere. You do not want to miss any of them.
Let’s dig into God’s Word now as we experience the Light of the world!!
IN THE BEGINNING
Without light life would not exist.
In Hebrew the word אור “ohr” means light but it also means order.
It shares the root with the Hebrew word for order and box. In Hebrew though, a box helps keep things in order. Therefore, light is also necessary to maintain order. Even the English word order begins with this same sound “ohr”. Thus, light is a sort of containment for the structure of our universe. As good science teaches us, light is what “holds” quanta particles together and all matter consists of invisible particles. Therefore, the light, literally holds our universe together.
Lets look at Genesis 1:3.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:3 (NKJV)
Before anything existed and it was dark and void on the earth, these were the first words spoken by God and the first to exist before anyting else. It was important for light to exist before God created anything else, it was needed for life to exist and all things to have order.
Keep this in mind as we continue through scripture on light.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Another one of my favorite verses about Light, is found in John 8:12. However the Light, or the ‘Light of the world’ in the bible, always refers to our savior, Jesus Christ. Lets have a look at John 8:12 (NKJV)
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NKJV)
So Jesus is saying here that HE IS the light of the World: This means that in a World filled with darkness, and evil, HE IS the light of the World!! So He brings light to a dark World – but for who?
The second part of this verse he says that “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness…”. I always look out for these little words in scripture…..the word shall – this sentance is written in the present continuous tense, so Jesus is telling us that if we follow him [today and in the future], that we shall not walk in darkness.
In the bible this word is an indication of a certain, moral obligation, something that will definitely happen.
“In addition to its sense of obligation, shall can also convey high moral seriousness that derives in part from its extensive use in the King James Bible, as in “Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps” (Ps 85:13) and “He that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Mt 23:12). The prophetic overtones that shall bears with it have no doubt led to its use in some of the loftiest rhetoric in English.”
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/shall#:~:text=%C2%B7,(Mt%2023%3A12).
The last part of the verse says “….but have the light of life”.
So if we follow Jesus, we WILL NOT walk in darkness BUT…..have the light of life.
Wow, and Amen!! I don’t know about you, but I can do with the ‘Light of Life’ in this terrible dark World.
A LAMP TO MY FEET
This next verse gets me super excited, and is one of my family’s favorite verses. Psalm 119:10.
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:10 (NKJV)
In this Psalm of David, he is writing that God’s Word is like a lamp to his feet and a light for his path.
We know from scripture in John 1:14 that Jesus is the Word in flesh: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.’
The picture that David gives here of what God’s Word means to him (and to us today) is such a great practical example that we can follow. It means that if we spend time with Jesus (God’s Word in the flesh), that Jesus will not only give us light to see the Truth but we will see the way we should go.
Oh wow!! How many of us today need help to understand what God’s Will is for our lives, how we should live to Glorify His name, or just simply use it to guide us through everyday life and the decisions we need to make.
SHINE BEFORE MEN
In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)
Jesus starts by saying that we (believers in Christ) are the light of the World. When we are saved, and we believe that Jesus is the son of God, that He died for our sins, that He now lives in us – we live for Him, and His light shines through us, so that we may Glorify His Name!! Oh praise Jesus!!
We are not only called to Jesus to be saved through His precious gift of salvation through Grace, but we are called to be a light in the World, so that other (non-believers) may see the Glory and Love of the Lord in us, and that they may come to the end of themselves, and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
This my friend, is what being a Christian is all about!!
John 3:16-17 says ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’
I John 4:19 says ‘We love Him because He first loved us.’
We are called therefore to love…..EVERYONE, let them see the love of the Lord in you, and be a Bright Shining Light in a world that is getting darker, and darker, and darker.
Things to remember
- Read – Spend time in God’s Word
- Speak – Speak God’s Word out loud
- Pray – Pray to the Lord (remember to take time to listen)
- Trust – Trust in the Lord with all your heart
- Love – Love yourself, love others, but above all love Jesus – because he first loved us
I hope you enjoyed this message.
The Lord Jesus bless you and we’ll see you next time.
Lots of love.
Llew
