Light is wonderful. No wonder that, according to the story of creation, God took a full day just to create light, and that on the first day of creation. Light, radio waves, microwaves, heat waves and x-rays are all examples of the same kind of wave. The only difference between the waves is their wavelength. We can therefore state that all these waves were created on the first day of creation. Through a study of these waves and their applications it is possible today to have things like cellphones, computers, radio, TV and many, many more. Thus, in his love, God already made it possible for us on the first day of creation to watch a rugby match in Australia on TV, to speak to someone on the other side of the globe within seconds of pressing a couple of buttons, to operate on eyes with lasers, to examine by means of x-rays, etc. God not only lets us see, He also lets us see in colour. And important: without light and heat from the sun, life on earth would be impossible!
The Word compares a life in sin to a life in darkness, and a life according to God’s will to a life in the light. The Bible stresses the fact that we should live in this light. This symbolic contrast between light and darkness appears more than 70 times in the New Testament.
Just as the original creation started with light, so the “new creation” also started with light, namely through Jesus, who is called the “light of the world”. Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness” (John 8:12).
Jesus experienced the full force of the darkness of Evil by bearing all our sins. While He was on the cross, the following happened: At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. At about three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout … “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” (Matt. 27:45-46). On the cross Jesus, the light of the world, triumphed over darkness so that we may live in the light.
The Bible speaks of a new city to which God’s children will go. Of this city it is said: 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 (Rev. 21:23-24).
If we have accepted Jesus, the light of the world, as our Redeemer, our lives have a new meaning and a new mission. Jesus tells his disciples: You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven (Matt. 5:14-16).
We now become, like Jesus, the light of the world. Our experience of the grace of God, and our redemption in Jesus, must now become visible in the good works we are doing so that the people, who see the light of Jesus in us, may glorify our Father.
Our heavenly Father, thank you for the knowledge that You love us so much that You came to us in Jesus, the light of the world. Teach us to live in this light. Amen.
