And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Genesis 1:3-5

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:4-5

In the Christian calendar year, the first three seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany are known as the “Cycle of Light.”

In the Old Testament creation narrative, the writer of Genesis describes the first order of business for God was to establish light. Everything in God’s creative body of work would follow step one – bring the light.

In the New Testament incarnation narrative, John emphasizes that Jesus brought the light of God to everyone. Emmanuel, “God with us”, came to deliver us from all darkness.

It’s pretty much impossible to much of anything in the dark. Without light, we see nothing.  But with light, we can see potential and possibility. And in the light we can do something about what we see.

Light and life go together like faith, hope, and love. Light represents the presence of God. Darkness marks His absence.

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Consider for a moment our 100% dependence on the manifestation of “light” in the natural realm. Light,  electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength, is the earth’s dominant source of energy. Light powers our food chain and source of oxygen through the wonder of photosynthesis.

The harnessing of light is essential in our everyday technology such as cell phones, TV, lasers, and medical imaging, as well as cutting-edge technologies in robotics, biometrics and military defense. And don’t forget the mighty power of the Jedi lightsaber of Star Wars fame.

In the spiritual realm, the presence of Light is even more essential.

Why? Well, the essence of God’s being is light. . and we, created as his Imago Dei image bearers are created to be light bearers. Humans are designed to be creatures of the light, not the darkness.

“God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all” 1 John 1

The good news is, God has given us all we need to be filled with his light.

He is the “Father of light” who “gives good gifts”. He gives us all we need to be like His Son.

So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures. James 1:17-18 The Message (MSG)

In the new heavens and earth, God himself will be the source of all light.

They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. Rev 22:4

This epiphany season, let the hope of new life fill your spirit. Not in circumstances, not in “a new year”, but in the reality that God loves you so much he gave you the Word, the one who is life and light, Jesus Christ, who lives in you forever.

Let your light shine today!

Prayer: