God is THE Light

God is THE Light

I have read Genesis many times, and every time I’m amazed by the account of creation.

One thing that has always stood out to me is that God created light before He created the sun, moon, and stars.

Genesis 1:3-5 says, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Then also Genesis 1:14-18 which says,  “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.”

I don’t know how many times I read those verses and simply thought, there was light. But then, a little later in the chapter, we see the creation of the sun, moon, and stars, and we realize there was light before any of those things existed.

That first light was God shining in the darkness.

The word light is interesting because it is used many times and in many different ways throughout the Bible. God is the Light of the world. God gives light to the world through creation. We are children of the light. We are called to believe in the light, walk in the light, and reflect the light.

God shines light into darkness.

Before we come to the Lord, we are living in the world and in darkness. We have not yet experienced the true Light of the world. But when we come to the Lord and seek forgiveness, we are enlightened. We experience freedom from the weight of the world and are filled with the Spirit and the joy of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

God sent Jesus to save us so that we could walk with His light within us. Through Christ, we are able to shine that same light into the world around us.

John 8:12 says, “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.’”

That is our calling—to follow God and share who He is and what He has done in our lives. We are called to walk in the light, reflecting God's character and goodness. Others notice that there is something different about us because we see things differently and respond to life differently.

This is not always easy.

We are human, and we often follow our flesh and instincts instead of following God. That is why it is so important for us to seek God daily through His Word, His will, and the example of Jesus.

As believers, we are called to let our light shine before others. Not so that people notice us, but so that they see God through us.

Matthew 5:14-16 says, “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.”

When I think about God leading His people through the wilderness, I’m reminded that even during their punishment and wandering, God never abandoned them. He guided them during the day and illuminated the darkness at night.

God does not want His children walking in darkness.

We all go through seasons that seem dark. Sometimes we feel like the only things carrying us through are our own strength and determination. But when we stop and think about it, those things actually come from God. He is the One who strengthens us. He is the One who upholds us. He is the One who helps us make it through uncertain and difficult seasons.

I can honestly tell you that over the years we have faced many situations where we had no idea what to do next. Yet every single time, God has revealed Himself more and more.

Now, when difficult situations arise, we know we do not have to worry. What seems dark to us is not dark to God. He knows what is coming, and His light is already shining through the darkness, guiding us forward.

Looking back, we can see His hand at work in our lives even during the times when we didn’t recognize it.

That is what keeps us going—hope and light.

In the beginning, before there was a sun, moon, or stars, there was God’s light shining in the darkness.

God spoke, and light appeared.

He is still speaking today.

He is still bringing light into darkness. He is still bringing hope where there seems to be none. And He is still speaking that same light and life into you.