Light Be!*

The first thing that God created in Genesis was light, and He created it by command of His Word: "And God said, Let there be (meaning "to become, become like, come into being") light: and there was light.And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." (Geb. 1:3-5). On the sixth day of creation, God created man. He created man in His own image: "So God created man in His own image...male and female created he them. So God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over...every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (see Gen. 1:26-28). We can note that when God instructed the man created in His image to "replenish" the earth, it must mean that the earth had been filled previously. Jesus also discussed His identity as Light:"...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12). Jesus was saying that if we have Him, we hve light. There are those who call themselves Christians, but their acts are acts of darkness. Many involved in the Capitol riot of Jan. 6th carried Christian flags, and called on the name of Jesus. At the same time, policemen were assaulted with those flags, and death threats were shouted against the politicians inside the Capitol building, including the Vice-President. As we saw in Genesis 1, a division was set between Night (darkness) and Day (light). Jesus remarked upon that division: "I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn. 9:4-5). The night is coming when no man can work. Jesus also said, "And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." Once we believe on Jesus, the Light, we should not be remaining in darkness. This is a turning of the Church out of their doctrines and traditions to what the Word of God says instead. We should no longer abide in darkness. Where are you abiding? After His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to His disciples about being salt and light. As He told them "Ye are the salt of the earth...", Jesus also warned that if the salt has lost its savor, and no longer contributes as a preservative, it then becomes good for nothing, and thrown away. It is the same with us being light. Jesus said: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:13-16). As the light of the world, we are expected to be light, not just for ourselves, but to the whole house, to all the earth. Jesus inc;udes in His teaching our mistreatment and unjust anger and judgment towards one another. Those who do so are in danger of judgment themselves and possibly hellfire (v. 22). As we will see, love towards others is connected to being light: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." (Eph. 5:1-2). Paul also wrote to avoid partaking in the works of darkness, or with the people who practice them: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, idolatry. These things are subject to the wrath of God (v. 4-5). "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (v. 6-8). We are called to be as one who worships the Lamb, who is the Light of heaven, not needing any natural source of light, where there is no darkness nor night (Rev. 21:22, 22:1-5). The Apostle Peter also wrote to call us to lay aside the habits of those in darkness, malice, hypocrisy and evil speaking. We are a spiritual house in which we offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, and as babes who have been nourished and raised on the Word of God. (1 Pet. 2:1-5). Rather than being like those who are disobedient, and disregarding of the sacrifice and authority of Christ, "...ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy (v. 9-10). These things are not a suggestion, but a command of God. From the beginning, God has wanted His people to live, not by laws written on stone, but with His Word and His ways written in our hearts. John wrote that we are to try or test the spirits whether they are of God. Many false prophets are in the world (1 Jn. 4:1). The true Spirit of God confesses the Lordship of Jesus Christ, sent by God and having come in the flesh. Because we are of God, John wrote, we have overcome the world, and the spirit of antichrist already in the world, which denies Christ: "...because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." (v. 2-6). As we saw above the connection of our being light and loving others, John also wrote of the importance of love: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love...Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another...God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.(v. 7-17, excerpt). Again, John wrote as Paul did above, that if we hate our brother, yet say that we love God, we are liars: "And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (v. 21). We are called to be salt and light. It is the command of God. What are we doing with the glory that we have been given? (Jn. 17). Let us stop walking and talking in darkness. Night is coming where no man can work - let us be light. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/6/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.