spiritual light

“Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.      – 2 Corinthians 4:6

 

The Genesis account of creation begins with the world that was dark and formless. The first thing God did was to say, “Let there be light.” The light was spoken into existence. Yet it would be three days later before the sun and stars were created. The light that initially illuminated the world was the very light of the glory of God. From the beginning, God separated light from darkness. 

 

Light and darkness are often used as metaphors for righteousness and sinfulness in Scripture.

In his commentary on today’s verse, theologian John MacArthur relates physical creation to spiritual redemption. Before the physical creation of light, there was only darkness. Before the spiritual redemption of a person, he lives in the darkness of his sinful nature. MacArthur says, “God commanded the light to shine out of darkness at the creation. And the light which shined creatively, He has now begun to shine in a redemptive way. The light of creation has become the light of salvation. The physical light of the sun has become the spiritual light of the Son. The universal light has become the personal light.”

 

Knowing Jesus is a result of the light of the Gospel shining into your heart, illuminating the truth of God to you. As Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” If you are a follower of Jesus, He is transforming your life into one that reflects His glory. He tells you to “let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16). The same human dynamics are in play now as when, during Jesus’ time on Earth, He said, “People loved the darkness rather than the light” (John 3:19).

You are called to overcome the darkness by being a shining example of life in Christ.