Let There Be Light

In the beginning...God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:1,3, KJV)

And so it began.

All those millennia ago, darkness was upon the face of the deep (Genesis 1:2). And the first thing God chose to do was speak light into existence.

Darkness

The last three years have been difficult for those of us on planet earth. Everything we’ve known has come to a halt or is questioned and changing.

The Creator’s plans for mankind are ignored. His creation has chosen to ignore His design, believing man has better plans and solutions for the troubles he creates for himself.

Darkness is over the face of the deep…again.

Light

Thankfully our Father has a plan. And His plans are good.

Jesus came to earth to show us the Father and to make a way for us to be with the Father. Forever.

When God said, Let there be light, He wasn’t just speaking of light from a physical standpoint. He was speaking about truth. The ability to see beyond the lies of the enemy. Hope that darkness doesn’t win.

Jesus Is The Light

Jesus told His followers He is the light of the world (John 8:12). And the apostle John tells us Jesus was with the Father at the beginning.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:1-4, KJV

Think about it. Jesus is the Word of the Father, and Jesus created the world with the Father. In Jesus is life. When He came to earth as a babe in a manger, He brought that life to us. And that life was and is the light we need.

This is what we celebrate at Christmas. Jesus, the Light of the world, has come.

Light Overcomes Darkness

But what about the darkness in which we find ourselves? Over the past few years it’s as if the light in our world has gone out. How can we see when things are so bleak?

John the Apostle addressed that question before we ever asked it. Darkness has not and cannot overcome the Light of the world.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5, ESV

Jesus, the Light of the world, shines into our darkness to give sight to the blind. He doesn’t want us fumbling about in the dark so He brings light for us to see correctly. He wants us to see Him, the One who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). And through Him, we see life as it truly is.

Paul wrote to the church at Colossae,

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14, NKJV

In the beginning, God said Let there be light. Years later, God sent Jesus, God’s living Word, to light our way from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of light.

Rejoice In The Light

As we head into a new year, it’s hard for me to realize it’s been three years since a pandemic began to close the world down. Chaos has rolled across our world like a snowball gathering speed.

We hear of wars and rumors of wars. But Jesus told us we would hear of these things. And yet He said we’re not to be troubled (Matthew 24:6).

Rather than being anxious in the dark, Jesus gives us the ability to rejoice in the light. His joy is our strength, the ability to keep going when the world appears to be out of control. We know our Lord has promised to return, and He will come again when it is time. His faithfulness brings us peace in the midst of a very dark and confusing world.

For now, Jesus tells us to rejoice in Him always (Philippians 4:4) and to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6). He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

We Are To Be Lights In The Darkness

Jesus, the Living Light of the world, tells us we also are to be lights in the darkness.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16, KJV

The world may be dark, but Jesus, our Light, still shines. God spoke light into existence at the beginning of creation. Then He sent the Living Light to light our world. Today He wants us to be lights wherever He has us placed.

My prayer for all of us this new year is that we will know the One who is truth. And that we will let His light open our eyes to see. He has overcome the kingdom of darkness. As we walk in His light, may we be a light to others and bring glory to our King.

Let there be light!

If you would like to read more about Jesus as the light of the world, Living Light can be found on page 30 of the December issue of Refresh magazine. Click on the link for Living Light and scroll to page 30.

God bless you with His light in the year ahead.

(Photos: Taken by Carolyn Thigpen, Tribble Mill Park, 2022)