“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” (Genesis 1:3-5).
When I was in high school, our church youth group went on a trip to Mammoth Cave. At one point in the trip, the leader turned off the lantern he was using, and suddenly we were in total darkness. You could not see your hands in front of your face. There was no getting used to it—it was total darkness! And then the leader relit his lantern, and it was amazing how the little light began to fill up the entire cavern.
Light is absolutely essential to creation and growth. Light is the primary energy source for photosynthesis, the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight into chemical energy. Without light, plants cannot produce food, which would disrupt entire ecosystems. That’s why God created light first.
Is it any wonder, then, that Jesus claimed in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world.” And he goes on to offer to those who will follow him “Whoever follows me with not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Light and darkness cannot co-exist. If there is any light at all, the darkness is dispelled. Hallelujah! However, when we equate light with purity and darkness with sin, we also see that the opposite is true. If there is any sin, purity does not exist. “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
Therefore, Jesus acknowledged his divinity, his role in creation, and his role in our redemption when he said in John 8:12 – “I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
What is the takeaway for us as believers? Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that as believers and disciples, we are the light of the world. “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” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Like the moon that can only shine the reflected light of the sun, we as believers can only shine the reflected light of God the Father and God the Son. This is important because Jesus told us to let our light shine before men so that our good deeds can be seen which will give glory to our Heavenly Father.
Fellow believers, we are to shine our lights!! Even though we are mere mortals, we have the power of light in us. The physical nature and power of light is such that one drop of light can dispel the darkness. We have such a unique and valuable opportunity as Mission staff to be the light of Christ to those we serve; to dispel the darkness that plagues their lives; and to provide Hope for Today, Hope for Tomorrow, and Hope for Eternity.
“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6b).
In Christ,
Judy
