Focus: Spiritual Light

Text: Ps.36:9

"For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."

The role of light in human existence is undoubtable and inevitable. In the Genesis creation narrative light was the first thing God spoke into existence. You can call it the light of the word of God, for God made the natural lights of the sun, the moon and the stars on the fourth day. Light is good and very much needed in our lives.

Our text connects life and light together, and the psalmist recognizes God as the source of life and light. John says of Christ, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." His life is our light. We see through His life. His life lightens our paths and dismisses our darkness. In his epistle, John says, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1Jh.1:5). There's no iota of darkness in God. None at all! The psalmist describes God as the one "who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain" (Ps.104:2). Daniel stood before the king of Babylon and said of God, "He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the LIGHT dwelleth with him" (Dan.2:22). 

God is the home address of light. You see light wherever you see God. His presence radiates light.

Paul says, "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto" (1Tim.6:16). The light of face and presence is unapproachable.

We find in God the light of life, the light of truth, the light of love, the light of goodness, the light of His righteousness, the light of hope, the light of glory, the light of His countenance, the light of knowledge, and the light of the glorious gospel. 

The psalmist says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path… The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Ps.119:105,130). That is the light of the word of God! "And when I could not see for the glory of that light… for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Act.22:11; Rev.21:23). That is the light of His glory! The psalmist says, "LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us" (Ps.4:6). That is the light of face! The psalmist continues, "And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light… he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness" (Ps.37:6; Mic.7:9). That is the light of his righteousness! The psalmist says, "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles" (Ps.43:3). That is the light of truth! Paul talks about "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ… the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Cor.4:4,6). That is the light of the gospel and of the knowledge of God's glory!

The Scripture says that those who sit in darkness have seen great light, and for those who believe, the Lord has translated them from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light. You can see that the light of God is both great and marvelous.

The psalmist declares, "The LORD is my light and my salvation… For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness…" (Ps.27:1; 18:28).

Paul describes God's light as the armor of the believer in Christ. He says, "Let us put on the armour of light" (Rom.13:11), and the psalmist testifies, "For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them" (Ps.44:3). The light of His face guarantees our victory.

Again he says, "God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light…" (Ps.118:27). Isaiah lends his voice, "O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD… Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee" (Isa.2:5; 60:1).

God wants to see His people shining as lights and reflecting His goodness. Isaiah says, "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising" (Isa.60:3). He calls upon us to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our God. That is the light of good works. Daniel is a clear example of a believer shining as light in a world of darkness. The Scripture says, "There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father LIGHT and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers… I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that LIGHT and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee" (Dan.5:11,14). We are called "the children of light" (Lk.16:8; Eph.5:8; 1Thes.5:5).

Concerning the eternal future, Isaiah declares, "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory… for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended" (Isa.60:19,20). In the new Jerusalem city God and the Lamb shall be the light of it. Sun, moon and stars will be needless.

I pray for the light of divine beauty to be upon you! May God's light illuminate your whole being - even your conscience! You are called to be an instrument of divine illumination and a vehicle of vision. Let your light shine!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter