The Light of God (A Seminar Talk)
Background Scriptures:
OT: Genesis 1:1-3, 26-28; Ezekiel 28:12-16; Isaiah 14:12-17; Genesis 5:1-3
NT: John 1:1-5, 14-15; John 8:12; Matthew 11:28-29, 31; John 14:21; 1 Jn 2:3-11
Golden Verse: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12
Central Truth: The Image of God is Light
Intro:
God made man in His image, in His likeness, and gave man dominion over all He created. The Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) reveal and accentuate only two crucial words and kingdoms – ‘LIGHT & DARKNESS.’ These are the Light of God and the darkness of Satan. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). At this point, in the beginning, the earth was formless and empty; darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters – And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was Light.
Gen. 1:2. As far as heaven was concerned, there was no problem. God and Angelic Beings dwell in heaven. Heaven was and is still peaceful and paradisiacal.
Heaven was in a state of utter perfection and happiness. Because the Devil had been thrown out of heaven and cast into the earth. God is Light, and Satan is darkness. Satan was already cast out of heaven into the earth. And the earth was in a state of utter depravity. Heaven radiates only the Light of God – Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:7- 12; Ezekiel 28:16- 17; Isaiah 14:12-15.The pervasive darkness on earth made the earth formless, empty, and void. “But the earth was in disarray, and empty, and spiritual darkness was upon the face of the demonic realm.” We have had about the “Gap Theory,” a concept first proposed by Thomas Chalmers in 1814, based on a Hebrew reinterpretation of Genesis 1:2.
The “Gap Theory” suggests the angels were created “in the beginning” (Gen. 1:1). Rather than during or after the creation week, and that Satan and his angelic (demonic) followers fell before Gen. 1:2. “Without form and void” has been translated from the Hebrew phrase “tohu vav bohu,” also found in Isaiah 34:11, which is interpreted differently. “tohu” can also mean “confused,” and “bohu” mean ’empty.’ This means the earth was in disarray, and empty. Jeremiah 4:23-26 also uses the phrase “tohu vav bohu,” as follows: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form (tohu), and void (bohu); and the heavens, and they had no light.
I beheld the mountains, and lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens fled. I beheld, and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness. And all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.1″ The word choshek has been interpreted as “darkness”; this word is also used in Ex. 10:21 to describe the darkness The Lord brought upon Egypt, which was so dark it could be felt. The Light of God is not like a bulb or sunlight. God’s Word is Light; Yeshua, the word of God, is the Light. The Light is Phos, the only type of Light that emanates from God. In John 1:1-4, v. 1 says,” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God spoke, and the word produced Light. Remember, Satan was already cast on earth, causing darkness all over the earth.
The Light of God was now brought forth, and God sees it was good. Jesus reveals Himself in the Gospel of John as the Bread of Life (6:35), the Light of the World (8:12), the Gate for the sheep (10:7), the Good Shepherd (10:11, 14), the resurrection and the life (11:250); the way, the truth, and the Life (14:6) and the True Vine (15:1). A disciple of Jesus Christ is a branch of the Vine that is thoroughly pruned by Christ to bear fruit. The life of Christ is in the disciples; hence they have become the Light of the world.
Exposition:
Every Christian is a branch attached to the Vine (our Lord Jesus Christ). Your company determines your conduct. Your behavior determines your character, and your character determines your destiny. The power of the branch is its unbroken attachment to the Vine. God sent His Word, the Light in the flesh to the world of darkness. Jesus came to the world he created, and the world knew him not, but He shone His Light into the darkness of the world and brought a new lease of life for those that believe in Him. Jesus’ disciples must follow the ‘Master’ and become the Light of the world. It is when one abides in Jesus that one can bear fruit and become the Light of the world. Then the Light of God will not only shine on the person but also in him. The image of God that we are created is the Light of God. Adam & Eve were created with the Light of God in them. That was why Satan came to tempt them to draw them into his dark world of darkness.
So, every man born since then from Cain, Abel & Seth has the darkness of Satan in them until such a person intentionally decides to permit the Light of God to shine in him through repentance and transformation. The transformation is the inflow of Light in a person that decides for Christ. The conformity to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ is a flow of the perfect lifestyle in exchange for the old lifestyle. The old lifestyle will cave in for the new. The light of God inside those who believe in Jesus Christ is evident in their character, deeds, speech, and living lifestyle. When the Light of Christ shines in man, the first thing it deals with is the darkness of sin.
Departing from iniquity is a critical foundational walk with God (2 Tim. 2:19). Jesus died on the cross, breaking the power of sin so that we can be free. God needs men to do His work but only uses people “whom he had formed.”
In the same vein, for any individual to accomplish God’s call in his life, he has to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ through discipleship. Men like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and many others had a personal relationship with the Lord in discipleship. The Light of God causes a transformation in man. Transformation means change, alteration, mutation, conversion, metamorphosis, and transfiguration. As we wait before God’s presence, His glory will reflect and shine on us so we may progress in the transformation process. It is only a man who stays long under the incubation of Christ that can release Christ’s life through which he shines the Light.
Conclusion:
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, the Light of God is our Motivator, so we must allow the Light to flow in us. You cannot straddle between the two Kingdoms of Light and Darkness– Matt. 6:10. Obedience is a keyword in the kingdom of Light. Kingdom obedience stems from love; not fear, 1 John 4:18. Only the message of Jesus Christ can bring Light to, man.
The Light of God is also the Love of God. Koinonia is the fullest possible partnership and fellowship with God and with others. Koinonia with God only comes from a real personal encounter with the living Christ and surrender to Him as the absolute Lord of life. Koinonia is the complete expression of love (agape) and fellowship with God. You cannot be in fellowship with God and His Son (Jesus Christ) and not walk in godly fellowship with one another. Koinonia with God is an experience of his presence with His Light shining in us. Koinonia with God is the fundamental element of Salvation and eternal life.
Five Things to take Note:
- When the warm south wind with its soothing and balmy breezes brings showers of blessing2; Jesus Christ is the Light, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” – James 1:17
- When the cold north wind of trial and testing sweeps down upon you, Jesus is the – 1Cor. 10:13
- When the west wind blows hard upon you with its punishing intent. Jesus is the Light; “Whom the Lord loves He chastens” – Hebrews 12:6
- When the east wind threatens to sweep away all that you have, Jesus is the Light. God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory – Philippians 4:19
- The light of God is what makes a man to be wise.
Go Light Your World – written by Rice, Christopher M.
There is a candle in every soul. Some brightly burning, some dark and cold. There is a spirit who brings a fire; Ignites a candle and makes His home Chorus:
So, carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle and go light your world Take your candle and go light your word
Because we are a family whose hearts are blazing
So, let’s raise our candles and light up the sky Praying to our Father in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in the darkest times.
