Let There Be Light

Sometimes the important analogies presented in the Bible are so frequently echoed in our worship, our prayers, and even our conversations, that God’s intended meaning gets lost in our minds somewhere along the way. Consider the frequent use of the analogy of “light” in the Bible. “The Lord is my light,” they sang in Psalm 27:1. “Send forth your light” we pray (Ps.43:3). The New Testament tells us we should be “children of light” (1Th.5:5) and that we are to be “the light of the world” (Mt.5:14).

But what are we to understand from this recurring analogy? At the very least the biblical illustration of light is employed to help us appreciate the value of truth and biblical wisdom. “The unfolding of your words gives light” the Bible tells us, “it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps.119:130). As the Proverbs put it: “these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light” (6:23). “Open my eyes” the student of the Scriptures prays, “that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Ps.119:18).

Much like groping in the dark during a power outage, without light we are unable to assess the reality of our surroundings and we struggle to navigate from here to there without kicking this or tripping over that. The accurate information that comes from God “turns on the lights” and allows us to know what is real, what is important, what to invest in, and what to avoid. So let us be “of the light” seeking to boldly “enlighten” others about the life-changing truth found in God’s word.