Genesis 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
In the beginning, there was light. In addition to the literal sense of light versus darkness, there is a symbolic meaning in that everything in creation was in harmony with God, meaning, there was light. When darkness came, it was brought on by Satan who was the first to sin and brought darkness upon the world and all of creation. This was the beginning of mankind being out of harmony with God and all of creation being plunged into darkness as a result.
While the word light is mentioned many, many times in the Scriptures, what I’m focusing on here is the symbolic light and not the literal sense of the word. Right now our world is shrouded in darkness as described by Job in the following verse:
Job 10:22 [It is] a land of blackness like the deepest darkness, gloomy and chaotic, where even the light is like the darkness.
Just as in Biblical times, there are many, many people who have not experienced the light and who do not recognize the light for what it is or stay on its paths. These people are not limited to the “wicked” – those who are your vile criminals (murderers and rapists etc.). Then there are those who worship false gods or no god at all. They too are in the darkness. There are also those who most of us would not describe as “wicked” but who are also not within the light of truth. They are the false shepherds who do not preach truth and those of their flock who have been misled. In fact, each and every one of us are in the darkness unless we are in the truth, recognize the light and do everything within our power to stay on its paths. Then, and only then, can we serve God as being beacons of light that show the way to those who are truly lost in the darkness.
Job 24: 13, 16 The wicked are those who rebel against the light. They do not recognize its ways or stay on its paths. In the dark they break into houses; by day they lock themselves in, never experiencing the light.
Even then, amidst the darkness, God had a plan and was to perform the greatest act of love and mercy in sending His first creation – His beloved son – to serve as the light and the truth to lead us back to Him.
Psalm 43:3 Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.
John the Baptist spoke of Christ even before His ministry began, testifying about the light that was to come. The light that God sent into the world, Christ Jesus who came to show us the Way and continues to this day to light our paths with truth and righteousness for all who seek it and Him.
I believe that it was no coincidence that it was also a light, the Star of Bethlehem, that led the wisemen to the baby Jesus. I see it as being symbolic of Christ’s serving as the light that multitudes would follow in later years down the path of righteousness that leads to Salvation and Eternal Life. Additionally, the wisemen were symbolic of those who are wise enough to discern truth and see Christ for what He was and still is. The light of the world..
John 1: 6-9 There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
Christ explained how we too, could be beacons of light or sons of light. How if we walked in His footsteps and followed God’s commands, we would be full of light rather than darkness.
Luke 11:34-36 Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. Take care then, that the light in you is not darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, the whole body will be full of light, as when a lamp shines light on you.
We were also shown how anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, which is Christ Jesus, as he stated at John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
He also went on to explain at John 11:9-10 “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. If anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him”
I will end this article with a prayer. Heavenly Father, I pray that those who are currently in darkness see the light and truth of Your salvation. Christ Jesus. That those who are of the light remain in the light and that Your light and the light of Your son Christ Jesus shine through them so that they serve as beacons showing people the way to Eternal Life. Let there be light, let there be peace, and especially in these darkest times of the Tribulation, let the second coming of Your son banish the darkness and restore the light that was lost long ago, bringing us all back in harmony with You, Father. For these things I pray in Your son Christ Jesus’ name, Amen.