Let's Go to Church - Light

Light - Symbolic of revelation, goodness, hope, the Word of God

Scriptural references:

(Revelation)

Psalm 90:8

You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.


Daniel 2:22

It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.


(Goodness)

Matthew 5:16

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good

works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.


(Hope)

2 Samuel 23:4

Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, When the tender grass springs out of the earth, Through sunshine after rain.’


(The Word of God)

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Scriptural Teaching

If we look back at the creation account again, right after we see the Spirit of God hovering over the surface of the waters, the bible says in the very next verse, v.3, that God said, “Let there be light.” So first there was water, and then there was light. And with water and light, life and the sustaining of life becomes possible. Because water and light were in place, now God could speak plants, grasses, and animals into existence. Life could exist and be sustained because of the presence of water and light. You see, deepening your worship means recognizing that you need both living water that only Christ can provide and the eternal light of Christ illuminating your path. In other words, you need the water’s regeneration; and you need the light’s revelation.

That’s the first thing that light represents in scripture

1. Light represents revelation.

Because light dsipels the darkness and allows us to see more clearly; to

discern what we are viewing; to make sense of what’s before us. The light

represents revelation. The psalmist writes in Psalm 56:13 “For you have

delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life” (Psalm 56:13). Walking in the light of God’s revelation means following after His ways so that we don’t stumble through life. Stumble through choices.

Stumble through situations and issues and scenarios. But that we rather walk with the assurance and the confidence of being on a lighted path that has been ordered by God.

2. Light represents goodness.

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “Let your light shine before men in such a

way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in

heaven.”


Remember that Jesus not only declares Himself to be the LIght of the

world, but He bestows that same title upon you and me. He calls us salt

and light. ANd as light, we are to demonstrate goodness; we are to model

righteousness; we are to exmplify holiness. As light, we are to be

demonstrations and demonstrators of God’s love and models of Christ’s

deeds. As lights, we are to bring goodness into an evil world. So let your

light shine by demonstrating the love of God daily.

3. Light represents hope.


If you were in an unfamiliar space; in dark and unknown surroundings, light

would be a welcomed sign. And more than likely, your instinct would draw

you toward the light. Because light suggests a way out of the darkness

that you’re in. Light is hope. The psalmist declares in Psalm 27, “The LORD

is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?” Light gives us hope

when we face enemies and drives away fear; light gives us hope when we

deal with life’s disappointments and pushes aside doubt; light gives us

hope when we must walk through lonely valleys of desperation and the

darkness of pressing dilemmas and keeps us from living in anxiety and

walking in worry. Remember Jesus says of Himself, “I am the Light of the

World.” Which means that we can look to Him when we are met with

struggles; hardships and disappointments and have in Him hope that we

will get through what we’re going through. Light reminds us that we have a

living hope in Jesus Christ.

4. Light represents the Word of God.

The psalmist declares in Psam 119;105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,

and a light unto my path.” Remember when God gave Moses instructions

to build a tabernacle? Inside of that tabernacle - this meeting place with

God - was to be a golden lampstand that had seven candlesticks. The

lampstand was to provide light or illumination for the priests to perform

their priestly duties. But like all the other tabernacle furniture, the golden

lampstand was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Just as it gave forth light.

Jesus told the people:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in

darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV)


While the lampstand was a foreshadowing of Christ, it was also symbolic

of the presence of God for the bible declares in 1 John 1:5 that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” So the light was a critical element when entering the tabernacle. It not only provided illumination of the physical space, but it provided revelation of the spiritual experience. God is light and in Him there is no darkness. There is no wrong; there is no

contradiction; there is no error. Which are all things that we can say about

the word of God. There is no error; no contradiction; no wrong. And

because the bible teaches us that God and His word are one, (In the

beginning the Word was with God and the word was God), then His word,

as the psalmist declares is light. A lamp that as believers, we must look to,

lean on and live by. When you look to this light, let it be a reminder that

God’s word is truth. His word directs us through life’s dilemmas and gives

us hope for today and tomorrow. His word is a lamp unto my feet and a

light unto my path. You can look to His word to reveal to you His will and

provide wisdom for how to handle life as it happens. Make it your purpose

each day to walk in the light of life.

Application

When you read the Bible this week, pray that God illuminates your mind to the revelation of the truth of His word. Light your candle before reading and meditate on living and walking in the light of life.