Chapter Eleven

The Light of God

As we enter this section, let us not forget what we have learned so far. Let us realize that we must continue to know and grow. Remember that these words are active and not passive. We must apply all of these attributes to our lives. We must continually strive to know, grow, and understand to remain in God's kingdom.

The first part of this section will deal with the Christians aspect of light. To understand light, we must understand what darkness is and what it represents.

Darkness in the Bible is used several ways. It is used of ignorance or the lack of knowledge. It is used of sin and the blackness that is reserved for it. It is used to represent evil or as someone will say "the dark side" of man. It also represents death, the final chapter of life.

Light on the other hand represents several things. It represents knowledge and understanding. It represents the truth. It is enlightenment or the making known of something. It also stands for the truth.

Read all of these verses in their context. See how light is used and what purpose it fills.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. {16} "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Psalms 18:28 (NKJV) For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Psalms 43:3 (NKJV) Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle.

Psalms 112:4 (NKJV) Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Psalms 119:130 (NKJV) The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

Isaiah 8:20 (NKJV) To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV) Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

Jeremiah 31:35 (NKJV) Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name):

Micah 7:9 (NKJV) I will bear the indignation of the LORD, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.

Matthew 4:16 (NKJV) The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."

Mark 4:22 (NKJV) "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

Luke 1:79 (NKJV) To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."

John 1:4 (NKJV) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 3:19 (NKJV) "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 3:20 (NKJV) "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

John 3:21 (NKJV) "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

John 1:6 (NKJV) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

John 1:7 (NKJV) This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

John 1:8 (NKJV) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

John 1:9 (NKJV) That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

John 8:12 (NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 9:5 (NKJV) "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

John 12:35 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

John 12:36 (NKJV) "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

John 12:46 (NKJV) "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

Acts 13:47 (NKJV) "For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

Acts 26:18 (NKJV) 'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

Acts 26:22 (NKJV) "Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come;

Acts 26:23 (NKJV) "that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

Romans 2:19 (NKJV) and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

1 Corinthians 4:5 (NKJV) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV) For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

2 Timothy 1:10 (NKJV) but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 John 1:7 (NKJV) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Revelation 21:23 (NKJV) The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

Revelation 21:24 (NKJV) And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

As you can see from the previous verses, Jesus is the true light. Christians are the lights of the world. We see that light gives guidance. As the sailor will move by the stars, the world can be guided to God by the lights of God. The moon has no light of its own, but at night it is the brightest object in the sky. Why? Because it is a reflection of a true light. We as Christians must be like the moon and reflect the true light of Jesus to the darkness of the world we live in. Can you imagine driving a car at night without headlights or streetlights? Can you imagine television without light? Can you imagine any activities at night without light? Could you read this without light? We see that light is very important in the physical world. It not only guides us; it shows us the way. That is what Christians are to do for the world. To guide them to God and show them the way to God. Christians are to let their light shine. Remember, every Christian is a light, and every Christian is responsible as to how brightly that light shines, leads, and guides those around themselves.

Go to Chapter Twelve

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