"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light.' " Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV)
Let there be light.
The drama of creation commences with the powerful declaration, "Let there be light." Before God did anything else, before he separated the waters, before he created the oceans, the sky, and the land, before he created the vegetation, plants, and trees, before he created the sun, moon, and stars, before he created fish, aquatic life, birds, livestock, animals, and bugs, even before he created man and woman, God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Genesis 1:4-5 (NIV) continues, "God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from darkness. God called the light 'day,' and the darkness he called 'night.' And there was evening, and there was morning— the first day." What would creation be or what would life be if not for light? Light is the very basis for all of life. Light is good! Light is a gift from God. The first movement of creation was away from a state of total darkness toward light. And did you notice that the first movement of the very first day was from evening to morning, from darkness to light? Genesis 1:5(NIV) says, "there was evening, and there was morning— the first day."
For most people, for those who do not know God or his word, the day begins first with light and then ends at night with total darkness. But the Jewish people, God’s chosen people, have always had it right. There was evening and there was morning. The first day. Evening, or darkness, marks the beginning of the day, and morning, or dawn, marks the climax of the day.
In God’s economy we are to be continuously moving away from darkness toward light. From evening to morning. From that which is formless, empty, and dark toward that which is made new, fresh, and filled with light. This is all part of God’s design in creation and it is all part of his formula for life. The advent of light is the dawn of day. We were destined to live in the light. We were not created to live in darkness. In darkness, everything dies. Life becomes an utter impossibility. In the darkness, that which is formless, empty, and dark, remains formless, empty, and dark. It remains lifeless.
From the beginning of time pagan religions have always had the impulse to deify light. For example, the Egyptians worshiped the sun god named Re. The Greeks and Romans worshiped Apollo. There are hundreds of such gods from virtually every culture. The pagan religions worshiped the sun, the moon, the stars, and the heavenly bodies for their light-giving properties. They understood that without light, there can be no life!
But the biblical writers never deify light. They rightly understood that light was a gift from God. Light was created by and has its source in God. Light points to a greater reality. This is why Psalm 148:3-6 (NIV) issues a command to the heavenly bodies. "Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away."
In the Bible it is not the created thing we glorify. It is not 'light' itself that we glorify. Rather, it is the greater reality behind light that we worship. We glorify the source of the light, God himself, the creator. So, our pilgrimage from darkness into the light is really a pilgrimage toward God himself.
James, in James 1:17 (NIV) speaks of the, "Father of the heavenly lights." In the story of Job, Job is not so much interested in pursuing light in and of itself. Rather, in Job 38:19 (NIV) he asks, "What is the way to the abode of light?" And in Job 38:24 (NIV) he says, "What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed?" In other words, "What is the way to the source of light, to the one who created light?"
In both the Old and New Testaments, light comes to typify God. Light represents life with God. Light represents truth. It represents God’s goodness and blessing. It represents the coming age. It symbolizes promise and hope. We continually find men and women on a pilgrimage, traveling out of darkness toward light.
Perhaps you remember the story of the exodus, which can be found in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. Exodus 10:23 (NIV) describes how during the deliverance ofIsrael,all the Egyptians were enshrouded in darkness, "...yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived." After miraculously delivering the Israelites out of the hands of Pharaoh in Egypt, God personally led his people through the wilderness to the promised land. Exodus 13:21-22 (NIV) says, "By day the Lord went ahead of them ina pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people."
How did God lead his people out of captivity in Egypt? With their backs turned toward darkness, he commanded them to follow the light. The pillar of fire and the cloud was a visible reminder of God’s presence among his people. As long as they followed the light, they could be assured of God’s presence and blessing.
Later in Exodus God would give his people further instruction concerning worship. They were to construct a tabernacle, a center for worship, a place where people were to gather in order to focus on the presence of God. When God instructed Moses in how to build the tabernacle, he gave elaborate instructions concerning a golden lampstand. The lampstand was to contain seven lamps, and was to be placed in the Holy of Holies so as to give light to the space in front of it.
In Leviticus 24:2 they were further commanded to keep the lamps burning continually. Later on, when the temple was constructed, it also featured lighted lamps. It should also be noted that the tabernacle and temple always faced eastward, to allow the sunrise to filter into them. These are important object lessons! The Israelites, God’s people, were to be continually moving away from darkness into the light of God’s presence.
Take note of the pattern. Creation moved from darkness to light. The first day moved from evening to dawn. The Israelites moved from darkness toward the pillar of light. Darkness is not our destiny. The light of God’s presence is our destiny. The light is to be continually before us, always. We are to be children of the light, of God almighty.
Later on in the Old Testament as the Israelites got established in the promised land, the focus turns toward God’s revelation. Light becomes a symbol not just of God’s presence, but of God’s truth. In Psalm 119:130 (NIV) the psalmist says, "The unfolding of your words gives light." Psalm 119:105 (NIV) says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 19:8 (NIV) says, "The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Not to skip into the New Testament prematurely but, 2 Peter 1:19 (NIV) says, "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
What are all these incredible passages teaching us? They remind us that light and life go hand in hand. Life is found in God’s presence. And life is found in God’s understanding and by applying God’s word to our lives. We will not experience life until we begin moving into God’s presence and God’s word.
But there is still more, much more, to this metaphor of light in the Old Testament. Isaiah the prophet takes this symbol of light and specifically applies it to the coming messiah. You may not know that they found the writings of Isaiah the prophet among the Dead Sea scrolls, which were stored in caves hundreds of years before the time of Christ. Isaiah foresaw a day when God’s light would visit earth in the form of a child, a child who would overturn governments and establish peace forever.
In Isaiah 9:2 (NIV) he writes, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." A few verses later in Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV) Isaiah elaborates further, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."
This child is the light Peter tells us to pay attention to, as to a light shining in a dark place. This child is the light of God’s presence in the world. This light is God’s word and God’s truth made incarnate. This child would become the light of the whole world. Creation moves from darkness to light. Each day moves from evening to dawn. Israel moves from captivity toward the pillar of light. The priest turns his back to the shadows and draws near God’s light in worship. And the people walking in darkness see a great light. Unto us a child is born, a son. One to whom is to be ascribed all the goodness and greatness of God. The one who will be called, "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
This child would make the sun, moon and stars obsolete. There would no longer be a need for a pillar of fire or for a golden lampstand. God’s word would come in the flesh, to personally call men out of darkness into light. And yes, we would do well to pay attention to it!
I love the Christmas story. I love Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. These magi, these wise men, these star gazers, these men of the dark night sky catch the glimpse of a bright star unlike anything they had ever seen. Instead of sitting there in the cold darkness indifferent to the spectacle, they make the critical decision to pursue the star and travel from the east to Jerusalem. They come to understand that a king is to be born, the child of Isaiah’s prophecy.
As Herod seeks to destroy the child, the Magi leave Herod’s presence. Matthew 2:9-11 (NIV) says, "…they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifs of gold and of incense and of myrrh."
Unlike their pagan counterparts who worshiped the stars, these star gazers had discovered the ultimate reality. They found themselves gazing upon the Father of lights, the one in whom created things, including light, has its source. They no longer needed the stars. They would never walk in darkness again! The movement from darkness toward the light had transformed their existence.
Let’s leave Matthew’s star gazing magi for a moment. Luke tells us about the shepherds. Luke 2:8-12 (NIV) says, "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' " Luke 2:16 has the shepherds hurrying off to find Mary and Joseph and the baby. They leave the darkness of night and come face to face with the living God.
Shortly after Jesus’ birth, he is presented in the temple to be circumcised. Luke 2:25-32 (NIV) tells us, "Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.' "
The movement of the Christmas story and the movement of God’s people throughout history has been from darkness to light. The movement has been from life without God to life in Jesus Christ. John 3:19 (NIV) says, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."
There are those who because of their hostility to God, and because of their love for sin, would rather stand in the dark of Christmas. But if you are a child of God, a child of light, you won’t be standing around in the dark this Christmas. You will be drawing near to the light of Christmas, the true light, that gives light to all men. You will draw near to the light who is Jesus Christ.
In John 8:12 (NIV) Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." In 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV) Paul writes, "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 the glory of God in the face of Christ." Revelation 22:5 (NIV) indescribing the coming of Christ says, "There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
Gosh, hang Christmas lights if you must. But don’t you dare miss the true light of Christmas. Don’t you dare fail to draw near to the one who said in John 8:12 (NIV), "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."