God is Light

[james1523]

God is Light

• The Bible tells us that God is light (1 John 1:5) . God who is the creator of the universe is the real light. The light which He created, the Sun, is the natural light created by God. Then there is artificial light created by man.
• God is the source of all the light, whether natural or artificial.

Christ Makes God's Light Approachable

• The Bible teaches that God dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim 6:16). A fire or electricity, when uncontrolled, is untouchable and dangerous. However if it shines through a lamp, it is approachable, touchable and safe. Christ is the lamp which makes God's light approachable, and God is the light in Christ (Rev 21:1-2, 23).
• Christians also are to be lamps with light (Matt 5:14), and God is to be our light (Psalm 27:1). Within every Christian dwells Christ as the lamp, and within Christ is the Father as the light.

The Purpose of Light

• Light is for ruling and order: In war time the first thing an enemy does is attack the light sources. This plunges the city in darkness, confusion and disorder. When God created the universe, the first thing He created was light (Gen 1:3). The purpose of light is to rule and bring order (Gen 1:16-18, 1 Cor 14:33). Light is a ruling power (Rev 22:5). God rules His kingdom and keeps it in order by His light. Darkness in Scripture signifies punishment (Exo 10:22, Rev 16:10, Matt 25:30 ).

• Light is for revealing: The light shows us our darkness, our sinfulness, so that we may repent. (1 John 1:5-6).

• Light is for fellowship: We must walk in the light because He is in the light, to have fellowship with each other and to be cleansed from every sin (1 John 1:7). People that do not walk in the light cannot have true fellowship with each other. If we want unity and genuine fellowship we must walk in the light.

• Light enables us to live righteously: To walk in the light is to practice the truth (1 John 1:6). It is not enough to simply know the truth, that God is the light, we must practice and walk in it. A Christian has Christ in them as the lamp and also the Father in them in Christ as the light. For this reason a Christian has no need for ethical or religious teachings to merely conform their outward behavior or habits (1 John 2:27). We don't need someone to tell us "do not steal" because as we live and walk in the light, we will spontaneously know not to do these things.

God's Word Brings Light

• Psalm 119:105, 130 - God's Word gives light. We need to spend time in the word, so that we can live in the light. The more time we spend in God's Word, the more ruling and order we shall have, the more our condition will be revealed so that we will know what to do, and the more we will be able to fellowship with others and live righteously.

The Destiny of every Christian is to live in God's Light

• It is the destiny of every Christian to live and move within a city full of God's divine Light (Rev 21:23, 25) within the New Jerusalem.

Light and the New Jerusalem

• There will be no night in the New Jerusalem because God Himself will be the sun that never goes down (Rev 22:5). In the new heaven and new earth there will still be night and day, however in the city will always be day-time, there will be no night (Rev 22:5).
• The nations will walk by the light of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:24, Isaiah 2:5, 11:9).

Light and the Jewish Tabernacle

• The Jewish Tabernacle had 3 sections - the outer court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. The outer court of the tabernacle was lit by the sun during the day and by the moon at night. The Holy place was lit by the lampstand. In the Holy of Holies however was no sun, moon or lampstand. The light in the Holy of Holies was God Himself. This shows us that the New Jerusalem is in fact the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle.

Life and Light Go Together

• John 8:12 says if we follow Christ we shall have the light of life.
• John 1:4-5 says that in Christ is life and this life gives us light and this light shines in darkness.
• When we have God's life we also have God's light. This light keeps everything in order. The more life a church has, the more light it has, and the more order it has. Darkness results in confusion and disorder. It is impossible to walk in darkness yet have life. It is impossible to have life and yet remain in darkness.

Light is a Life-producing power

• Light produces life. Without light, humans, plants and animals would not grow. When we feel sick spending time in the sunlight often makes us feel better. God's light generates life which brings in spiritual growth to the believer. Without God's light, there is no growth. God gives us life, then this life gives us light, and then this light generates more life, causing our spiritual growth.

Being a Person in the Light

• A person who lives in God's light brings harmony to his own life, his own family, his church, his workplace, wherever he or she goes. This is because God's light within them dispels darkness and suppresses the flesh, and results in God's life, peace and harmony and order. The very presence of a person who lives in God's light can bring harmony and peace in a situation of disorder and chaos (Mark 4:38). A pastor who lives in the light can bring order and harmony to a whole church, a father or mother who lives in the light can bring order harmony to their family.

Summary
Every Christian must spend time in God's Word to experience God as their Light (Psalm 27:1). Walking in God's light results in God's ruling, order and harmony in our lives, family and our environment. Walking in God's light produces God's life which causes us to grow spiritually. Walking in God's light enables us to have genuine fellowship with other believers. Walking in God's light enables us to achieve a high degree of practical righteousness as it conforms us to obedience to God's commands.