This truth is one of the “I AM’S” of Jesus. This is something we can know with certainty, because Jesus has revealed it to us. “God is LIGHT and in Him there is no darkness at all…” (I John 1:5)
The same Creator God who spoke and there was LIGHT has commanded that LIGHT to shine in our hearts as we receive Jesus as Savior & Lord, and will continue to be our LIGHT throughout eternity.
Our sin-darkened world desperately needs the LIGHT of Jesus! Those of us who have now received the LIGHT of the gospel need to let it shine through our lives to the world!
At our mission base in the Polillio Islands here in the Philippines, when we look out over the ocean waters at night we often see the bright light of a fishing boat. Fishermen are fishing with a bright light. As they shine the light into the water, fish & sea creatures are attracted, and come to the light. That reminds us of what Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me”. The brightness of His LIGHT attracts fish in the world. Let’s continue to exalt & lift up JESUS – LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
JOHN 8:12
“I am the LIGHT of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the LIGHT that leads to life.”
JOHN 1:4
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought LIGHT to everyone.
JOHN 1:9
The one who is the true LIGHT, who gives LIGHT to everyone, was coming into the WORLD.
JOHN 3:16-21
“For this is how God loved the WORLD: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the WORLD not to judge the WORLD, but to save the WORLD through him… 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s LIGHT came into the WORLD, but people loved the darkness more than the LIGHT, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the LIGHT and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the LIGHT so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
John 11:9,10
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the LIGHT of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the LIGHT is not in him.”
Illustration: As we drive, LIGHT is very important. We need to see well to avoid accidents. Just imagine, if you were driving at a high speed and the lights went out on your vehicle. You would be heading toward a dreadful disaster very quickly.
I John 1:5-7
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that GOD IS LIGHT, and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7 But if we walk in the LIGHT, as He is in the LIGHT, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
LIGHT keeps us from stumbling & falling
Darkness blinds peoples eyes spiritually. When their eyes are opened, they can see the LIGHT. Scripture warns us not to leave the paths of righteousness – that is very dangerous! When people fall back into the sinful ways of darkness it is dreadful, & brings severe consequences! (John 12:35,36).
LIGHT helps reveal God’s creative beauty
When we receive Jesus as Savior & Lord, we are delivered from the power of darkness (Satans kingdom) & translated into the kingdom of LIGHT (the kingdom of God).
Colossians 1:13 – He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love…
Our spiritual eyes are now open to behold the blessings of God’s creative beauty. When we were blinded by darkness, we were not able to recognize & fully appreciated God’s beauty, and His wonderful creative beauty all around us. Jesus came to bring us the very best life possible, the “abundant life” – (John 10:10).
THE COMING OF THE LIGHT INTO THE WORLD MARKED THE DAWN OF SALVATION!
MATTHEW 4:16
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.”
John 12:46
I have come as a LIGHT into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
ACTS 26:23
…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 (Gentile nations).”
2 CORINTHIANS 4:6
For God, who said, “Let there be LIGHT in the darkness,” has made this LIGHT shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:5
There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor LIGHT of the sun, for the Lord God gives them LIGHT. And they shall reign forever and ever.
Special note: The Bible talks about a LIGHT that is 7 times greater than the sun, whenever that is! (…the LIGHT of the sun will be sevenfold, like the LIGHT of seven days [concentrated in one], in the day that the Lord binds up the hurt of His people, and heals their wound.. – Isaiah 30:26).
ANGELS and a bright LIGHT ANNOUNCED JESUS BIRTH
LUKE 2:8-11
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
PAUL’S CONVERSION
ACTS 9:3
As he (Saul/Pau) journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a LIGHT shone around him from heaven.
Acts 26:13
…at midday, O king (Agrippa), along the road I saw a LIGHT from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
Acts 22:6,9,11
“…near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great LIGHT from heaven shone around me. ..“And those who were with me indeed saw the LIGHT and were afraid, … And since I could not see for the glory of that LIGHT, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
PAUL’S COMMMISSION
Acts 26:18 – 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 13:47
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.’ ”
JESUS TRANSFIGURATION
Special note: It is very interesting to note that the revelation of LIGHT at Jesus transfiguration was prophetically described hundreds of years before. These are some of the around 300 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.…
Habakkuk 3:11
His brightness was like the LIGHT; He had rays flashing from His hand…
Psalm 104:2
Who cover Yourself with LIGHT as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
Matthew 17:2
…and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the LIGHT.
GOD’S WORD IS LIGHT
PSALM 119:105,130
Your WORD is a lamp to my feet and a LIGHT to my path… The entrance of Your WORDS gives LIGHT; It gives understanding to the simple.
Proverbs 6:23
For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a LIGHT; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
PROVERBS 2:6,7
For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous:
Special note: What comes out of the mouth? Our words… God’s words proceeding from His mouth give wisdom.
Ecclesiates 11:7
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as LIGHT excels darkness.
THE LORD IS MY LIGHT
Jesus is not only the LIGHT of the WORLD (others everywhere), but MY LIGHT (in a personal way).
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is MY LIGHT and MY salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of MY life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Micah 7:8 – …The Lord will be a LIGHT to ME.
Psalm 18:28 – For you will LIGHT MY candle: the Lord my God will ENLIGHTEN MY darkness.
Psalm 118:27 God is the Lord, And He has given US LIGHT;
FAMILY OF LIGHT
Ephesians 5:8 – For you were once darkness, but now you are LIGHT in the Lord. Walk as CHILDREN OF LIGHT.
I Thessalonians 5:5 – You are all SONS (& daughters) OF LIGHT and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
John 12:35,36 – 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. While you have the LIGHT, believe in the LIGHT, that you may become SONS OF LIGHT.”
James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the FATHER OF LIGHTS, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Philippians 2:15 …that you may become blameless and harmless, CHILDREN OF God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as LIGHTS in the WORLD…
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the LIGHT of the WORLD. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. Let your LIGHT so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Isaiah 60:1-3 – Arise, shine; for your LIGHT has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your LIGHT, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Romans 2:19 – …and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a LIGHT to those who are in darkness,
JOHN 3:19-21 – 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. For everyone practicing evil hates the LIGHT and does not come to the LIGHT, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the LIGHT, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Psalm 112:4 – Unto the upright there arises LIGHT in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has LIGHT with darkness?
Ephesians 5:13,14 – But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the LIGHT, for whatever makes manifest is LIGHT. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you LIGHT.”
I John 2:9,10 – He who says he is in the LIGHT, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the LIGHT, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
I Peter 2:9 – 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…
What does it mean to let our LIGHT SHINE?
Witnessing; Living by God’s Word; Sharing God’s Word; Being truthful (avoiding lies, deception, & hypocrisy — not living a double-life… living in sin while living for God); Loving the LIGHT; Not walking in darkness; Loving others; Praising & glorifying the Lord; Putting on the armor of LIGHT (being protected by LIGHT); etc…
PROVERBS 4:18
But the path of the just is as the SHINING LIGHT (shining sun), that shines more and more (shines ever brighter) unto the perfect day.
The picture below illustrates several important points. 1) Each year of our life should celebrate more LIGHT when we are living for Jesus, and letting His LIGHT shine through our lives. Our life is becoming more and more glorious – shining brighter & brighter. 2) If the cake were to represent the world, & the candles represent people & nations – the world would become brighter and brighter as more & more people & nations glorify the Lord, & let His LIGHT shine throughout the earth.
