In the Beginning: “Let there be light”
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NKJV) The first order of business for God was to address the darkness. 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. (Genesis 1:3-4 NKJV) The light was named Day and the darkness labeled Night. The evening and the morning marked the passing of the first day. A testament to God’s power, day and night passed until the sun and moon were created and set in the heavens on the fourth day. Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; “and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. (Genesis 1:14-15 NKJV)
Light is more than just a measure of passing days. It has spiritual significance to man: suffering represented by darkness with light representing enlightenment. Job questioned the blessing of light when deep in despair. “Why is light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter of soul, Who long for death, but it does not come, And search for it more than hidden treasures; Who rejoice exceedingly, And are glad when they can find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in? For my sighing comes before I eat, And my groanings pour out like water. For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” (Job 3:20-26 NKJV)
Job also explained how some have wisdom and understanding while other men grope in ignorance. (Job 12:12-25) Those instructed by God had light shine on their ways. (Job 22:21-30) God offers redemption of the soul which Job described as being brought back from the pit. God accomplishes this by enlightenment with the light of life. (Job 33:19-33)
David referred to the Lord as his light and the fountain of life. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1 NKJV) Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. (Psalms 36:5-9 NKJV)
John reveals the implications and the ultimate revelation of the light of life. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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. (John 1:1-14 NKJV)
Jesus is the Light. Believe in Him.