Have you ever pondered how powerful light is? When one is in the dark, they are desperately seeking for any light for guidance to safety. Children sometimes need a night light for comfort, or direction to the bathroom at night.
Light has reference also to understanding. For instance, when someone finally grasps a concept being studied, we might say the light bulb just came on.
Light also refers to goodness rather than darkness—which refers to evil.
Scripture gives us many references to light. We often hear the story of the Star of Bethlehem, at this time of year. Many light references are possible to speak of today. Let us look at just a few.
I. Light
A. God creates light.
1. Gen. 1:1-4. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
a) Light represents the difference between good and evil.
b) Suggest to you this light was Christ.
B. Christ the Light
1. John 8:12. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
a) Jesus is the light.
b) Light refers to goodness, righteousness.
2. John 9:5. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
a) Jesus is the Savior. He is the righteousness of the world.
3. John 1:1-5. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
a) God made his son first before anything else was made.
b) John calls Jesus here Word.
(1) Without him nothing was made.
c) John also refers to Jesus as the light of men.
(1) Jesus creates goodness within man.
4. Rev. 21:23-24a. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:
a) Jesus the Glory of God, the Lamb will light the New Jerusalem—heaven.
II. Earthly light
A. Sun and moon.
1. Gen. 1:14-18. 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
a) The sun was for the day.
b) It was a bright light to give warmth and light for sight.
c) The reflective moon and stars gave light for direction at night.
d) The sun divides light from darkness.
e) The deeds of man are evil in the darkness, night, because they cannot be seen clearly.
(1) John 3:19-20. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(2) This has double meaning—light and darkness as in good and evil. Evil things are done in the dark.
(3) Light as in Jesus is the light—righteousness. Jesus will reprove the deeds of man; he will expose the evil deeds.
B. The earthly lights will be destroyed in the end. The heavenly lights—Christ and God, will not.
1. 2 Peter 3:10. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
a) There will be no need for these lights in the Day of the Lord. (end of time)
III. Light for guidance.
A. The Star of Bethlehem gave guidance to those who came visiting the Lord Jesus.
1. Mt. 2:1-10. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
a) This star was a guiding beacon for the presence of the Christ child to be made manifest unto the world.
b) It guided the wise men unto the baby Christ to proclaim his presence to the world.
B. Light to guide mankind to righteousness.
1. Luke 1:78b-79. …. the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
2. Remember Jesus stated he was the light of the world.
3. When we become as he, with the light of righteousness within us, we are become the light of guidance to the evil dark world.
a) 2 Cor. 4:6. 6 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.
b) Mt. 5:14-16. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Conclusion
Jesus came to give us light—righteousness in the sight of God. We had him in the world for only a short time; we are in the world to do his will—spreading the light of righteousness in His stead. Jesus commanded the Apostle Paul, just as we also are commanded. Notice these words from Jesus to Paul. Acts 18:15-18. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
We come today to share this light which came into the world; which is still shining in the hearts of righteous persons. Is the light within you good or has it gone out and darkness replaced it? Luke 11:34-35. 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Which is in you today, light or darkness? Without the Light of the world—Jesus—in your body, the body is full of darkness; a condition representing evilness. Come to the light which shines within the Love of God in all the saints—come to Christ.
Think on the words of this song sang by Hank Williams Sr. called 'I Saw the Light'
"I Saw The Light"
I wandered so aimless life filled with sin
I wouldn't let my dear saviour in
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord I saw the light.
I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.
Just like a blind man I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.
I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.
I was a fool to wander and a-stray
Straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
Praise the Lord I saw the light.
I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.
Have you saw the Light?
