In order to appreciate light, we must know what darkness is. Darkness is the absence of God through Christ Jesus. Paul describes the cause of darkness in 2Corinthians 4: 4, in their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Darkness thrives because we love evil. John 3: 19-20 says people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. Darkness is thus the dwelling place of evil.
What and who is the light?
Light is what defeats or dispels darkness. Only God is the true light. David said in Psalms 27: 1, the LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? God dispels the darkness of life by Christ Jesus through salvation. Isaiah 49: 6 says I will give you as light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Jesus is that salvation which Isaiah spoke of as light to the nations to save the world. Jesus said in John 8: 12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” He also said in John 9: 5, as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
What is the purpose of the light?
The purpose of the true light is unlimited. It includes as follows;
Avoiding stumbling
Jesus said in John 11: 9-10, those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” Jesus implied that to the extent that he is the true light, those who walk in him will not stumble. However, those who walk without him will stumble because without him, there is darkness. The light gives us the chance to vacate darkness and embrace God. Isaiah 9: 2; Matthew 4: 16 say, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in the land of deep darkness– on them light has shined.
Embracing the truth
In effect the true light gives us the chance to embrace the truth of God. John 3: 21 says but those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God. Embracing the truth resolves every doubt and confusion. John 8: 32 says you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. Christ Jesus is the truth. Jesus said in John 14: 6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Without Christ Jesus, there is no light; and without the light there is no truth; and without the truth, we are overshadowed by darkness.
Lightening our lives
The prophet Samuel said in 2Samuel 22: 29, indeed, you are my lamp, O LORD, the LORD lightens my darkness. Samuel says whenever we are lost or marooned in darkness, we must remain assured that the Lord who is our lamp will surely lighten our darkness. During the darkness in Egypt in the days of Pharaoh when he refused to let the Israelites depart as God demanded through Moses, Exodus 10: 23 says people could not see one another, and for three days they could not move from where they were; but all the Israelites had light where they lived. God is and remains the unquenchable light for his chosen.
Leading our journey
The true light of God keeps us going even in times of darkness. When the Israelites had to travel all day during the days of the exodus without stopping, God was their light in the night so they could travel away from Egypt. Exodus 13: 21 says the LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. Till we reach our destination in heaven, God will be our light on journey in this life.
How do we keep the true light?
The light must always be oiled with righteousness. In order to keep God’s light burning, God commanded the Israelites in Exodus 27: 20; Leviticus 24: 2, you shall further command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of beaten olives for the light, so that a lamp may be set up to burn regularly. God’s light is maintained with pure oil. Matthew 25: 3 says, when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. May the Lord Jesus, the bridegroom of his church, find us with our lamps burning with sufficient oil when he comes so we may not be shut out.
To succeed, we must always keep oil in our lamps. The Lord told Moses in Numbers 4: 16, Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, shall have charge of the oil for the light. The light in the Lord’s sanctuary had to be maintained so they did not run out. God does not want his light in our hearts as his dwelling place extinguished. We must devote to maintaining the light with righteousness by seeking for God. Job 38: 19-20 ask, “Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?
The absence of the light means death. Psalms 13: 3 says, consider and answer me, O LORD my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death. Just as the psalmist prayed, we must also be diligent in prayer because without Jesus, we are in death. In confirmation, Psalms 18: 28 says it is you who light my lamp; the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness. God’s light saves the soul and banishes fear. Psalms 27: 1 says the LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Psalms 36: 9 says for with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Only Jesus can lead us to God for Psalms 43: 3 says, O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. What is the light in our hearts? Jesus or the prince of darkness? Isaiah 60: 19 says, the sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. In effect no other light but God is what we need. We must remember that 2Corinthians 11: 14 says and no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Keep the light of Christ Jesus burning.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, in your light, let us see the light so we may humbly submit to your will. Remove the scales from our eyes and quench our love for darkness. Lead us home by your gentle light in your holy name so we may not miss our providential way. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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