I like light! As a matter of fact, I like all sorts of lighting apparatuses; headlights, houselights, flashlights, penlights, headlamp light, cellphone light, and oh yes, don’t forget sunlight. We see that once and a while here in Upstate New York, at least until it sees its shadow and then disappears for another six weeks. But what about darkness? I guess I am not a big fan of it. Usually, the more light that is shining, the better I like it.
I believe God likes light too. This is an understatement because we know that God is Light. We also know His first creative act had to do with light as seen in Genesis 1:3-5, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”
We understand from the context of Genesis 1 that, “darkness was on the face of the deep,” (1:2) and when God spoke His creation into existence His first order of His creativity was to make a distinction between darkness and light. What is interesting is that the light used in His creative work of the sun, moon, and stars, was not created until the fourth day (1:14-19). So that makes God the “First Source” of light.
SPIRITUAL ANALOGY: This brings me to my point and that is, we need God’s Light in every part of our life. Like the need for sunlight, we need God’s Light to shine down on our life in order for us to walk this earth the way He intended us to.
God never intended to eliminate darkness, but to draw a distinction between the two, so that we would be able to avoid the pitfalls of life that will so easily get us off the path that He has designed for each of us. Truth is, not all darkness is a bad thing. I would much rather sleep in a dark bedroom than one that has light pouring into it. While camping in the wilderness it is much easier to see all the stars at night than to see them through a city skyline. And who doesn’t like a beautiful sunset, seeing the contrast between the sun going down and the moon and stars coming out? Like I said, not all darkness is bad. Read what Isaiah 45:7 says, “I form the light and create darkness…” Before anything was created, God created the darkness that was over the face of the deep. Do I understand all His creativity? Not a chance!!! But I do know that the God of Light, spoke light into existence so that we might see the contrast between the two, especially within the spiritual realm.
So, what is it particularly that we need to know concerning God’s Light?
God’s Light Is Both An Energizer And Illuminator
Henry Morris writes in his book, “The Genesis Record”; “The Father is the source of all things, the Spirit is the energizer of all things, the Word is the revealer of all things. ‘For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ (II Corinthians 4:6).” We see God’s Light shining through His Son Jesus Christ where it is needed most, in our hearts. We can navigate this earth at night by the use of the stars, we can use a compass and map to find our way in the wilderness, and with the use of modern technology we can “google” just about any location we want to end up at. But when it comes to our spiritual life there is only One true Energizer and Illuminator and that is Jesus Christ.
Let me speak plainly here. How many, who have been called by His name, have you known that stopped following the Light of His Word (knowledge of His glory) to settle for a false shadow of who He really is? They have settled for a superficial imitation when they could have had a Son-soaked life filled with His glory each and every day. How is it that men and women who have been called by His name could go back to living by the cheap artificial lights of this world, the shallow light of secular humanistic thinking, worldly self- glorifying materialism, and the spiritual emptiness of situational ethics and morality?
It is my conviction that the more we digest Jesus Christ, being absorbed by His illuminating power, we become not only energized by His Word (through the Holy Spirit) but we will have continual guidance on the course He would have us on. Why? Because He alone will show us the difference between darkness and light, good and evil, what is worthwhile and useless, what is the right path verses being completely off course. Jesus said, “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)
Not too long ago I was hiking a trail in the Adirondack Park that was new to me. As I was hiking back toward the car at the end of a long day, I came to part of the trail where the trail markers suddenly disappeared. When that happened, instead of backtracking to pick up the markers, I took out my map and compass and decided to “bushwack” my way back to the car rather than waste my time backtracking. After all I am a seasoned woodsman, right?
As the name bushwack implies, you set your course according to your perceived location hoping that by following your map and compass you will come out somewhere near your starting point. Now, as you do this you actually get wacked with a lot of tree limbs and bushes on the way out. On top of all this, you need to understand you are not walking in a straight line because you are trying to avoid a lot of obstacles (like marshes, creeks, and big bushes), making your trek out all the more difficult. How easier it would have been for me if I just followed the yellow markers and stayed on the trail! But as soon as I left sight of the “light yellow markers” life became very difficult for me. Sure, I got out of the woods and back to my car but it was messy, long, and very tiring. When God made the distinction between light and darkness, He had our best interest in mind, not just for our ability to see clearly physically but to see clearly spiritually. How much easier it would be for all of us if we just follow the Light of Jesus Christ that marks our trail of life! Are you following God’s trail markers for your life? Are you following His “lighted trail markers?”
The God of light has marked our trail with His Illumination and says to us, “Stay on the trail that I have marked out for you with the Light of My Son.” It will be much easier for you if you do.
This is Pastor Pat FROM BEHIND THE PEN wishing you Joy in Jesus!