Christ, the Spiritual Light

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:3)

The first great act of God in creation was to say, “Let there be light: and there was light”. This light was independent of the sun because it was brought about before that heavenly body. It seems to have been God's own light penetrating the void and gloom described in verse 2. Certainly God Himself is described “as light” (1 John 1:5).

Thus the light of God is more than physical light and is a reflection of the radiance of His person. That light flows from the holiness and purity of who He is and was demonstrated by the Lord Jesus, who during His years on earth said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Also when speaking of the Lord Jesus, the apostle John wrote, “That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9).

So it is in the Lord Jesus that we see the true light of God. He is the light that illuminates God to our minds and hearts. He is the light that penetrates the darkness of our sin and selfishness, the gloom of our immorality and disobedience. He has experienced that darkness and gloom when He died for our sins on the cross and because of what He achieved there we can experience the light of God in our lives.

The apostle Paul put it this way, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). The light that penetrated the awful darkness at creation is the light that penetrates the darkness of sin in the human heart. The one who brings that light is the Lord Jesus.

It is a wonderful blessing to know the light of the gospel in our lives. Yes there is also a great responsibility. We are called to be lights and so Jesus says to us: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Our light is the reflected light of Christ in us. As we live in close communion with our Saviour, so we will live a live that pleases the Lord. It will help bring the blessing of salvation to others.

P.Y.