Sunlight and the warmth from the sun are wonderful treats; finally increasing together. This time of year holds so much hope of a bright spring and warm summer. The rising sun is marching northward on the eastern horizon. It makes that trek every spring and back again every fall.
Light is an awesome aspect of creation. “Let there be light,” God proclaimed in the beginning. The gospel of John continued that view of light; “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).
The exploration of the universe today is aided by the presence of light and its various energies. Space probes and telescopes provide amazing photos of space. Some space entities emit light, and some reflect it. Psalm 147:4 says “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.” That is an amazing truth, but even more wonderful is that he knows us and he has the answer to our needs. Verse three of that chapter states his amazing work, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
God clothes himself with light according to Psalm 104:2. John declared, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). It is this light that can make such a difference for us.
Jesus claimed, “I am the light of the world.” He shared that light by forgiving sin, healing the sick, and resurrecting the dead. His work goes on yet today. Spiritual light is vital to eternal life. Colossians 1:12-13 promises that we can be “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” This is made possible because He “delivered us from the power of darkness.” Despondency, despair, and depression have darkness as their companion. Life need not be lived in darkness, spiritual or natural.
Edith Wharton said, “There are two ways of spreading light; to be a candle or the mirror reflecting it.” Wise advice says it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. A candle doesn’t lose any light when it lights another. Light is shared and its cumulative affect increased. The psalmist David affirmed, “For thou wilt light my candle; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness” (See Psalm 18:28).
Night photos of the earth from the orbiting International Space Station show enormous areas of light in the location of a metropolis. Does more artificial light than true spiritual light exist today? A variety of light bulbs are being manufactured now, so manmade light will continue to increase. I hope there is a corresponding increase of spiritual light from Jesus for us.
Let light from God and his word shine in and through your life. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus can be light for us now and he will be the eternal light in the heavenly realm.
Mitch Glover is pastor of the Sterling Pentecostal Church located on Swanson River Road at Entrada. Services on Sunday include Bible classes for all ages at 10:00 a.m. and worship at 11:00 a.m. Thursday Bible study is at 7:00 p.m. (sterlingpentecostalchurch.com)
