Let there be light
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of light. Without light there is no life. It’s as simple as that. So it is not surprising to discover that, on the first day of creation, God created light. With the introduction of light, life was able to burst out in all its amazing variety over the following days as God created vegetation, fish, animals, birds and human beings.
I love the way in which John begins his Gospel. He plainly had these opening verses of Genesis in mind, and makes it clear that Jesus was with God, his Father, in the act of creation. He writes about Jesus as the Word of God, the one through whom God spoke to the world. In John 1:4 he wrote: “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.” Sadly, however, the light that Jesus brought into the world wasn’t what everyone wanted. In one of the most agonising verses in the Bible, John notes that even Jesus’ own people did not receive him (John 1:11).
The light of Jesus still shines brightly in our world today, but that light is never imposed. We have a choice as to whether we accept it, or opt to stagger about in the dark. On the face of it, it doesn’t sound like much of a choice. Why would anyone choose darkness? Why would anyone want to stumble around, bumping into obstacles and exposing themselves to harm when light is on offer? But incredibly, many people do choose darkness and, sometimes, so do we.
Let’s deliberately open ourselves to the light of Jesus today. It’s like opening the bedroom curtains at the beginning of the day. There is no law that tells us we have do this, but we choose to because we want to welcome the light of Jesus today!
QUESTION
As you think of your life, where is the greatest need for the light of Jesus today?
PRAYER
Loving Lord, I invite you to shine your light into my life today. Amen