A Light Study
A brief look at the theme of Light
Today, I wanted to share a theme that I saw in Scripture recently. Light, this has been something that I have been working on for a while. There are several reasons why I believe that Light is a key theme in Scripture. Namely, that we are “saints in light” or “sons of light.” If we are Christians then that is who we are in Christ. And that has massive implications in and of itself. To be in Christ is no small thing and when He makes statements that we are “sons of light” our spiritual ears should perk up. When we read at the beginning of John’s Gospel that the “light has come into the world” we should read more intently. As we study Scripture closely and consistently, over time these key themes start to appear. This world is full of darkness, and if we are to be lamp – and not under a basket – then we need to strive to understand, the best we can, what that means for us as saints.
Light as a theme in the Bible is a continuous thread woven through the tapestry of the Old and New Testaments. Beginning in Genesis 1.3 with God declaring “let there be light” and all the way to Revelation the word light is used 246 times in the Bible. Though not all uses of the word are what we are looking for, there is vast usage of our term in the New Testament and key uses in the Old, mainly Psalms and the prophets. God is awesome in that he uses everyday things that we are accustomed to, and need, to describe his glory, his Son, and his saints. God created light and called it good and now we are to be representatives of the Father of Lights. In other words, we are to represent what is truly good. Furthermore, light represents purity and what is good. James 1.17-18 states;
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.”
We are to be from the Word of truth and that makes us a kind of first fruit of his creatures. I take this to mean that being made in the image of God makes us his creatures. In Ephesians 5.8 we are called children of light and we are then commanded to walk as children of light. Also in 1 Thessalonians 5.5, we are called children of light, not of darkness. This demonstrates that there is a specific behavior and identity associated with those who belong to Christ. In light, there is no darkness. I am reminded of Matthew 6.24 "no one can serve two masters." We are to be servants of the light and slaves of righteousness. We cannot be both. We will either love the one or hate the other. This is an identity that is permanent and which bears fruit in the world. As 1 John 2.9-10 says:
“Whoever says that he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling."
The following verse says that we are to abide in the light. Being in the light is to abide in the truth. What is cool about this is how the different threads in Scripture begin to weave together, light and truth. John 1.5 says that Jesus is true light. He is the “light of the world.” He is the light that guides us along the way, his Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. In reality, there is no other light. There can be false lights, things that will attempt to lead us astray, but as we say in the above reference in 1 John, to not be in the light is to remain in darkness. One cannot be a fake light, there is only light and darkness.
This should challenge us. As a Christian or someone who is supposed to be a reflection of Christ, I am greatly encouraged and challenged by studying this truth. When Jesus says that one does not light a lamp and then put it under a basket, he was talking about us. “You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5.14 Also, he adds that the light is put on a stand and that it gives light to the entire house. Are we giving light to our respective houses? As Christ as our example, we are to spread his gospel to the world around us. There is no other gospel, so there is no other option. Christ has come into the world and made his truth known. Now, we are given the glorious task of furthering that light.
The light that we have cannot be overcome. Christ has achieved the final victory and now sits at the right hand of the Father. We are his children and granted this wondrous inheritance that “qualifies us to be saints of light.” Let us not squander this inheritance. Let us be good stewards of this light that we are now a part of. This should compel us to give thanks. Twice in the New Testament being children of light is connected with giving thanks. Being saved is a gift and this is a case for giving thanks. When we are lost in darkness and someone turns on a light, we are thankful. We are to be cities on a hill and cities grow, so should our light expand as we love God and love others.
As our love for God grows through faithful obedience enabled by his Holy Spirit so shall our light grow. The darkness is no longer our identity and we can live in the light, unashamed of the Gospel, unafraid of the truth. We are more than overcomers in Christ so we have a light that cannot be put out, there are countless examples of faithful servants of Jesus in history. They put their trust in the light of Christ and now they dwell in eternity with the Father and the Lamb. Revelation 21 gives us an incredible picture of what that will be like: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” How blessed are we to be his sons, his saints, and to be called to live for the Light of the Gospel. May God be praised as we live as lamps, cities, and servants of the magnificent, unfading, unending light of God, the Lamb.
May this post find you well and God bless!
A sun will set a final time And a Son will rise forever. A light that shines eternal forth On the hills of Beulah Land. A King enthroned to reign forever A Light, a sun, to His people. No night, nor fear, shall be found there In the glorious land of heaven. God and the Lamb enthroned, The Light and the Son forever.