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By Adele M. Gill
“God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” I John 1:5
Light is one of God’s very first creations according to the Book of Genesis. Numerous biblical references attest to its value, necessity, and purposes.
“Then God said: ‘Let there be light, and there was light.’ God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness. Evening came, and morning followed—the first day.” Genesis 1:3-5
There are good reasons why the Bible tells us that light comes after darkness, as night comes before the dawn. In the spiritual sense, the light of inner peace—even joy in times of adversity– comes after heartfelt prayer and reading The Word of God. For it is through the Light of Christ that we are able to stay on God’s path He prepared for us to Eternal Life. Jesus is the Light, the lamp for our feet. We need to try not to block His Light with negativity, distractions, discord, and the like.
“Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
Who can see clearly physically or spiritually, without Light? Light comes in many forms. Spiritually, God consistently shines His Light on all of humanity, and upon every situation, as only He can. He sees it all: the good, the bad and the ugly. By so doing, He is able to separate out absolute truth from half-truths and lies; and good from evil for the discerning heart. This is truly a great blessing for God’s people in these turbulent times I call the “Truth Famine.”
“Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient… For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them…”
Ephesians 6-8
*But much prayer and discernment is needed to understand this Bible passage. Yes—it is important and necessary to recognize, and be aware of, the glaring darkness that surrounds us. However, though it may be tempting to say, “Evil is everywhere,” especially when talking about the state of this tumultuous world, it is simply not true. No evil exists beyond God’s reach. In actuality, God is everywhere, using any person, any circumstance to accomplish His Divine Plan, working all things out for the good for those who seek Him. Negativity, fueled by fear, is a waste of precious time and energy that could be better spent helping to lead souls to Christ. It is a distraction, a delusion of the Enemy to think that evil will ultimately overshadow or prevail over God and all that is good–no matter how impossible things may appear. He is our Almighty Hope. Besides, believing Christians already know how the story ends with Jesus as the Victor. The battle has already been won.
“Light shines through the darkness for the upright; gracious, compassionate, and righteous.”
Psalm 112:4
As we learn to embrace a biblical world view, we are more able to move towards the Light and walk away from the bleak outlook this world so readily provides. For we as Christians need to bring the Light of Christ wherever we go. Otherwise, we will be overcome by the darkness in this world through fatalistic thinking that prevents us from fully believing that God is in control of every circumstance. We must not dwell on darkness and evil, lest we push God away, squander our inner peace, and lose sight of our primary Christians mission on earth: to serve God and to spread The Good News of the gospel. This life-giving approach to life prepares and enables believers to lead souls to Jesus Christ, unhindered. In that way, we can then focus squarely on what is of God—and all that surrounds us that is noble, good, right, and true, rather than waiting for the other shoe to drop with more ‘bad’ news.
When we rest assured that our loving God is ultimately in control, we then can recognize that God will always have the final say. He will brings great Light, and every opportunity to seek Him and find Him, even if for the first time. Living in the Light of Christ provides tremendous peace and even joy that surpasses understanding—which are two of the first fruits of the Holy Spirit of Jesus.
© Copyright 2021 | Adele M. Gill
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~ About the Author ~
Adele M. Gill is a certified Chaplain, and a graduate of the St. James College Seminary. She is a recipient of the 2021 Firebird Book Award for her new life-changing self-help book, ‘How to Go from Broken to Blest.’ This AWARD WINNING BOOK will lift up anyone who is weary, struggling, or in need of hope. https://amzn.to/2ZWsiCb
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