LIGHT VS. DARKNESS

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The great topic of Light and Darkness is woven deeply throughout the Holy Bible. It is not just a simple contrast, but it symbolizes the foundational battle between good and evil, between God’s Truth and Satan’s deception, and ultimately, between the very presence of God and a world that tries to exist without Him. The Scriptures make it abundantly clear: God is the source of all light, and His Light always overcomes darkness, both in the physical creation and in the spiritual realm.

Let’s delve into this profound symbolism by examining key scriptures and what they mean for us, the believers.

In the book of Isaiah 45:7, the LORD Himself declares:

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.”

This powerful verse underscores God’s absolute sovereignty over all of His creation. This includes both light and darkness. While we rightly associate light with God’s goodness and darkness with the workings of evil, this passage reminds us that God is in ultimate control over everything. Darkness exists, yes, but it is not a rival to God’s light, nor can it ever threaten His power. Instead, darkness, is actually the absence of light.

The first epistle of John 1:5, gives us a clear and undeniable statement about the very nature of God:

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

While God, in His sovereignty, created darkness as part of His creative work, He is not defined by darkness. Our God is pure, holy, and perfect. There is not a single trace of sin or evil in Him. In Him, there is only Light – which is Truth, Goodness, and Righteousness. As believers, as the Bride of Christ, we are called to walk in His Light and to utterly avoid the deeds of darkness, which is sin.

In Ezekiel 28:11-19, we read the tragic account of Lucifer. He was once a beautiful and high-ranking angel, filled with God-given light and wisdom, but he fell because of pride. The passage describes how Lucifer’s heart became lifted up on account of his beauty, and as a result, iniquity was found in him.

Lucifer, whose name means “light-bearer” or “morning star,” was created to reflect God’s glorious light. However, he chose rebellion instead of submission, and for this, he was cast out of heaven. His fall from a being of light into a being of darkness represents the very origin of evil. The “merchandise” mentioned in Ezekiel 28:16 symbolizes his evil works. He offered positions to angels to gain dominion, just as he later tempted our Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter 4, brazenly offering Him a position above all the kingdoms of this world in exchange for worship. This is Satan’s way.

Our Lord Jesus Christ calls His followers the light of the world in Matthew 5:14-16:

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 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.”

As true believers, we carry the Light of Christ within us, and this light is meant to illuminate the dark world around us. Just as God’s Light dispels the darkness, we are to shine His Light through our lives, reflecting His Truth, His Love, and His Goodness. This world, so often shrouded in spiritual darkness, desperately needs the Light that only comes from God.

Matthew 6:22-23, teaches a vital truth about our spiritual perception:

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.”

Here, our Lord Jesus uses the metaphor of the eye to represent our spiritual vision or focus. If our focus – our “eye” – is singly fixed on God and His Truth, then our entire being will be filled with His Light. But if we allow sin, the love of the world, greed, or selfishness to cloud our spiritual vision, then darkness will take over. Our eyes, as the “windows” to our soul, determine whether we are full of God’s Light or the world’s darkness.

The Gospel of John makes it absolutely clear that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. John 1:4-5 declares:

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

Our Lord Jesus came to bring true Light into a world that was utterly darkened by sin. The phrase “the darkness comprehended it not” means that darkness could not overcome, could not extinguish, the Light of Christ. His Light is eternal and unconquerable.

Then, in John 12:36, Jesus calls His followers to be “children of light,” encouraging them to walk steadfastly in His Truth and reflect His very character. To be a child of Light is to live in the Truth, standing firmly against the deception and darkness that pervades this world.

At its very core, darkness is not a power or a force in itself; it is simply the absence of light. As the book of Genesis shows us, in the beginning, God separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:3-4). This divine separation of light from darkness symbolizes the eternal division between good and evil, and it serves as a constant reminder that wherever God’s Light shines, darkness must retreat.

Men like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein studied physical light, seeking to understand its properties. The Bible, however, addresses LIGHT primarily in a spiritual sense. Yet, even these scientists recognized light as a powerful and essential force. Spiritually, God’s Light represents His Truth and His very Presence, which are absolutely vital for our souls, far more than physical light is for our bodies.

In stark contrast to the glorious Light of Christ, John 3:19 reveals the sad and tragic reality of humanity’s fallen tendency to choose darkness:

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

People often reject the Light because it exposes their sin. In darkness, they believe they can continue in their sinful ways without the conviction of God’s Truth. However, the call of the Gospel is for every soul to embrace the Light, to repent of their sins, and to walk in the glorious freedom that only God’s Truth can bring.

The message of Light versus Darkness is absolutely central to understanding our relationship with God. God is Light, and as His children, as His Bride, we are called to walk in His Light, reflecting His glory and His Truth to a world that is in desperate need of true illumination.

In a world so often characterized by deep spiritual darkness, we, the believers, are to be the Light that shines brightly and clearly – just as our Lord Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ indwelling us, let us walk as children of Light, allowing His Truth to shine through us, thereby dispelling the darkness and drawing others to the magnificent Light of His salvation. Amen.