Light. What’s the first thing you think of when I say the word light? And can you guess how many times the word light occurs in the Bible? According to my QuickVerse computer Bible program, it occurs 232 times in 205 verses. In almost every instance, it refers to light, the opposite of dark – not light the opposite of heavy.

Can you guess in which Bible book the word light is used the most often? I must admit, my own guesses were a bit off the mark. My first guess was the Psalms. That was a strategic guess, based simply on the fact that there are 150 Psalms, more “chapters” than any other book of the Bible. Also, I could think of a couple of Psalms, offhand, where light is mentioned.

Psalm 27: “The LORD is my light and my salvation;”

Psalm 36: “in your light we see light.”

Psalm 43: “send forth your light and truth; let them be my guide.”

As it turned out, Psalms was a close second, along with Isaiah, but there is one book that uses the word light twenty-five times, one more than the other two. It’s the book of Job.

The next question should be easier to answer. In what chapter of the Bible is the word light used the most often? When I asked one of my sons this question, he replied, “John 1.” Now that was a very good guess:

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

But again, it was a close second. Have you guessed? Yes, it’s Genesis 1. Seven times.

Let There be Light⤒🔗

The first words the Bible records as coming from the mouth of God are, “Let there be light.” Immediately there was light, and God declared it good. It is worth noting that from the very beginning, wherever God was, wherever God is, there is light. Scripture often uses light as a symbol of the saving presence of God in a fallen world, with darkness being used as a symbol of sin or the absence of God. Light is the brightness that enables sight in the darkness. Let’s trace this theme of light through Scripture and see where it leads us.

The light described in Genesis 1 is natural light. This light – whether in the form of sun, moon or stars – is created by God and subject to Him. In Exodus, we encounter two instances where God controlled the light and the darkness in order to protect and bless his people, Israel. Exodus 10 tells the story of the ninth plague inflicted upon the Egyptians (led by the Pharaoh who is very reluctant to let God’s people go). Moses stretches out his hand, and darkness descends on Egypt for three days. Imagine that, three days of darkness, a darkness “that could be felt.” There’s an irony here. The worshippers of the sun god Ra are condemned to total darkness. The children of the living God, the creator of light, are not affected. Exodus 10:23 states, “No one (no Egyptian) could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.” Amazing!

Protective Light←⤒🔗

The second instance where God controlled light and darkness is just as amazing. God leads his people through the night by going ahead of them in a pillar of fire. When the Egyptians chase after them, the angel of the LORD (whom many believe represents the pre-incarnate Christ) comes “between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long” (Exodus 14:20). Again the Egyptians in the dark, and Israel in the protective light of God’s presence.

In Exodus, we also discover that light played an important role in the tabernacle worship of God. The LORD is very specific in his requirements.

Make a lampstand of pure gold (34 kilograms of gold, no less) ... then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.Exodus 25:31-37

You are to bring “clear oil of pressed olives for light so the lamps may be kept burning.”Exodus 27:20

The seven lamps of the lampstand were to burn each and every night in the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that was in front of the Ark. The tabernacle, the place where the worship of God is centered, is to be a place filled with light.

At the outset, we noted that the word light appear most frequently in Job. That may seem unusual, since Job is a book that we associate with sadness and suffering, gloom and darkness. Well that’s how the word light – better yet the absence of light – is used. Job rues the day he was born.

That day – may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it.Job 3:4

And again “Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul.”Job 3:20

It’s not until much later that God questions Job: “Tell me, if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?”Job 38:18ff

Then Job realizes that he cannot contend with the almighty Creator of life and light. He simply needs to trust him.

Your Word is a Lamp←⤒🔗

The Psalms further develop the idea that God’s nearness bathes the believer in light. God is described as wrapping Himself in light as with a garment (Psalm 104:2). “The light of his face shines on us” (Psalm 4:6). His light radiates out from Him through his word into our hearts and minds so that we see the right path.

Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.Psalm 119:105

The unfolding of your words give light, it gives understanding to the simple.Psalm 119:30

God turns my darkness into light.Psalm 18:2

No darkness is dark to God. “The night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”Psalm 139:12

There is no darkness in our lives that cannot be penetrated by the God of light.

We come to the prophets, focusing on Isaiah where the word light is used twenty-four times. What comes clearly into focus in Isaiah is that “light” is referring to something or someone specific. Isaiah is prophesying about a future event. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (9:2). “I will make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (49:6). “Your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear” (58:8). “Arise, shine, for your light has come...” (60:1). “Nations will come to your light...” (60:3). “The LORD will be your everlasting light...” (60.20). With New Testament eyes we look back, and see that Isaiah was talking about Jesus Christ. But this is no longer a pre-incarnate Christ, but the co-Creator of the world the one who spoke in unison with the Father, “Let there be light.” He is leaving the realm of perfect, brilliant light to bring that radiance into a dark and dreary world.

I am the Light of the World←⤒🔗

Little surprise then that Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world.” What is astonishing is that He tells his followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). That’s quite a tall order. How did we move so quickly from Jesus, Lord of the universe, to us, mere creatures, having such a crucial function in the world? The answer is simple, yet profound. When we belong to Jesus Christ – which we do, don’t we? – Christ lives in us. We are in Him and He in us. What He is, we become. If He is light, then we are light. What an awesome task and responsibility. Christ tells us, “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness” (Luke 11:35). Thankfully, He also enables us to be shining lights.

Take the example of the popular tea light candles. Imagine that we are such a lamp. We look not too bad from the outside. Pretty colours. Attractive. But not too functional if the candle inside is not lit. The light inside us is Christ. When that is lit, we become what we are meant to be. Our function fits our form. We become useful. We serve a purpose. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Several of the apostles exhort their readers to live in the light and to be a light. “Put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12). “Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). “You are all children of light and of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). “Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble” (1 John 2:10). “You are a chosen people. A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). And we emphasize once more what Christ says,

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Light-Emanating Lives←⤒🔗

This all sounds good, doesn’t it, but I bet you wouldn’t mind an example or two that demonstrates how being a light works real life. These are true stories, things that happened in the lives of ordinary people just like you and me.

After twelve years of Christian education, a young woman enters the nursing program at a secular institution. Early on in the program, before she knows any of her fellow classmates, she makes a class presentation. She sits down. A classmate leans towards her asking, “Are you a Christian?” “Yes,” she answers, “but how did you know?” Her classmate replied, “When you were standing up there, I could just tell.”

Another young woman worked as a sales associate in a teen clothing store had a similar experience. A mother with a young teenage daughter came to buy school clothes. It soon became evident that mother and daughter did not have the same taste in clothes, the daughter being more daring in her choices than the mother preferred. With humor and good sense the sales clerk helped them put together a couple of outfits Mom and daughter were both OK with. Two happy customers re-entered the mall. A minute later the mother nipped back into the store. “Are you a Christian?” she asked the helpful sales girl. “Yes,” the young woman responded, rather surprised at the question. “I just knew it!” the mother exclaimed. “Thanks again for your help.” She exited once more. One more true story. A number of decades ago, a different young woman – let’s call her Alicia – was also enrolled in a nursing program. She became friends with a lovely, vivacious girl, Jen, who had the disturbing habit of using the Lord’s name in vain. Alicia could not bear to hear this. She spoke to Jen. “Jen, I love being your friend, but I won’t be able to if you keep using God’s name in vain.” Jen apologized and promised to mend her ways. She did, quickly correcting herself whenever she slipped up.

The story doesn’t end here. Jen and Alicia graduated, worked together off and on, married, moved away to different areas of the province, and kept sporadic contact over the years. A number of years later Alicia received a letter with joyful news. Jen and her daughter had become Christians. She thought Alicia would like to know. Her one prayer was that her husband would also see the light. Astoundingly, a couple of years later that prayer was also answered. Again, Jen sent Alicia the happy news.

No one will suggest that Alicia’s request to Jen to watch her language worked this miracle, but it is remarkable that when conversion occurred, Jen’s thoughts were led almost immediately to the young woman who had so earnestly asked her to honour God’s name.

Light Prevails Over Darkness←⤒🔗

Light penetrates the darkness. No matter how dark it is, and no matter how small a candle flame is, it can be seen in the darkness. Try this experiment. Switch a flashlight on. Put it inside a box. Cover it tightly with a lid. Turn off all the lights in the room. Now open the box. The light lights up the room. It chases away the darkness. The only way the darkness returns is if the light is turned off, or the lid is put back on the box. Darkness cannot maintain its hold when light is present. Remember that. So, put on your armour of light. It is impenetrable.

Try another simple experiment. Take an empty shoe box. Put the lid on tightly. There is nothing in the box, so we know that it is dark inside that box. This time, leave the lights in the room on. If you open this box “full of darkness” in a room full of light, do you notice the darkness? No, of course not. Light is stronger than darkness. The light will prevail.

The Lamb is the Light←⤒🔗

That’s the profound reality we see in Revelation. In the end, light prevails gloriously. “The (New Jerusalem) does not need even the sun or the moon, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23).

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.Revelation 22:5

Earlier in 1 Timothy 6:16, Paul offers a doxology of praise to the one who “alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.” The astounding thing is that we will see Him; we will bask in his brilliant, radiant presence; things will be back to normal. We will safely, exuberantly dwell in the presence of the one who said, “Let there be light.” And it will be good; it will be very good.