Let there be light

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good….  –Genesis 1:3-4a (NIV)
 
Light enables life. Light enables vision. Light enables color. The Creator invented light, then shared it with His creation. Throughout Scripture, light and darkness are contrasted as a metaphor for goodness and evil. And though God offered the light of His goodness, mankind chose their own path – darkness. The whole of creation has paid the price for that decision. But the God who created light was not content to leave us in our darkness….
 
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  –Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)
 
As soon as the first people committed the first sin (an event that wasn’t a surprise to Him, by-the-way), Yahweh began working on his rescue mission. For years, prophets pointed to the coming of a great light that would redeem the rebellious, fallen planet. In the fullness of time, the plan was revealed….
 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  –John 1:1-5 (NIV)
 
Jesus testified and confirmed that the light was back. “God with us” would save us from our own darkness by laying down His life. This path of self-sacrifice not only paid the price for sin, but showed the way back home to relationship with our Maker, the source of all light and life….
 
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  –John 8:12 (NIV)
 
The invitation to His followers then, is to share the story, to shine the light, to illustrate the heart of the Creator by loving the way He does. Not to save souls (we couldn’t if we wanted to), not to judge the world (we aren’t qualified), not to win arguments (a largely unproductive exercise). We live as light to point to our king. He is our joy, our strength, our hope….
 
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  –Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
 
Pray today to see the dark places in your world. Then go be a light. Heads up, eyes open.
 
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light….  –Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)