The Bible begins with the story of Creation, a six-day process where, out of nothing but His word, God produced heaven, earth, the seas, and everything in them. He started this with one profound declaration: "'Let there be light"...and there was light. This divine utterance carries within it a wealth of theological depth that reveal the essence of God's creative power and reminds of His greatness.
The Hebrew words employed in this divine command are "yehi ˈor," which translates to "let there be light." In the antecedent darkness of the universe, God's voice broke the silence, and light burst forth. Before this divine pronouncement, there existed only the darkness, and the sole source of illumination emanated from the divine trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Out of Nothing It is in this very act of creation, through His spoken word, that we witness the majestic might of God. Unlike the misguided notions of some, there exists no human capacity to conjure existence with mere words—a false doctrine often cloaked in the guise of a "new age" term: manifestation. To assert that humans can control circumstances or conjure existence through the power of belief is not only erroneous but audacious in its derision of divine omnipotence.
Whether one professes faith or walks in disbelief, all must refrain from the vain attempt to manipulate reality or speak existence into being. The transient successes touted on social media are but fleeting mirages. The stark truth remains: only God possesses the ability to call forth something from nothing, to command the elements into existence through the sheer force of His will. He did not linger in expectation, as proponents of “manifestation” suggest; rather, with sovereign authority, He proclaimed, "Let there be light," and light manifested instantaneously.
This divine ability to speak creation into existence is a testament to God's omnipotence and creativity. It is a reminder of why He spoke those words—He commanded light into being as a foundational act of creation, a testament to His sovereign dominion over all things. This proclamation resonates through the ages, asserting that God alone can create “ex nihilo” and summon the universe into existence through His divine utterance.
Light of the World
The light that God ushered into being held a twofold purpose: to illuminate the world and to prefigure the Light that would redeem a darkened humanity—Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul eloquently elucidates this parallel when he declares, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Indeed, Jesus, the Light of the world, embodies the purpose behind God's command. Just as God created light and separated it from darkness, Jesus entered the world as a beacon of salvation, dispelling the pervasive darkness of unbelief. The world may dwell in spiritual obscurity, but Jesus, as God incarnate, came as a radiant hope.
In the words of Jesus during His earthly ministry, "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). This proclamation mirrors the act of creation in Genesis 1:3, emphasizing that light was created to grant sight to humanity, and Jesus came to open the eyes of the spiritually blind and lead the lost to belief. In Him, we find the ultimate Light.
Therefore, no longer must we stumble blindly in sin's morose shadows. Through faith in Jesus, we find the path to righteousness illuminated before us. In the face of a deceptive world that lures us towards sinful inclinations, Jesus is the Light that guides our steps, keeping us from the precipice of transgression and steadfastly focused on Him.
To trust in Jesus is to transcend the darkness that threatens to engulf us. His sacrifice on the cross, burial, and resurrection grant us salvation, forgiveness, eternal life, and reconciliation with the Father. In Him, we need not fear the encroaching darkness, for He remains by our side, promising, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
With faith in Jesus, our Light, we shoulder the responsibility and privilege of following Him. Through obedience, we demonstrate our love for God and align ourselves with His divine will. Disobedience, on the other hand, bears consequences intended not to harm but to discipline and beckon us back to God's embrace. We must remain vigilant, heeding the Holy Spirit's luculent guidance and conviction, never allowing our hearts to grow taut against His voice.
The Adversary's Assault on the Divine Light
Amidst the resplendent proclamation of "Let there be light," we must also acknowledge the relentless efforts of the adversary, Satan, to undermine and extinguish this divine radiance. The forces of darkness, led by the Devil, wage an unceasing battle against the light God created, seeking to cast a pall of spiritual blandness and moral decay over the world.
The Devil, with his audacious defiance of God's sovereignty, seeks to deride the very essence of divine light. He spews forth lies and deception, ensnaring the hearts and minds of individuals in a web of moral ambiguity and spiritual confusion. His picaresque tactics involve distorting the truth of God's Word and sowing the seeds of doubt. Through subtle temptations and enticing deceptions, the Devil endeavors to expand the bonds of sin, leading humanity further away from the light of God's truth. He whispers seductive promises of power, pleasure, and prosperity, all while concealing the dire consequences that await those who succumb to his enticements.
The Devil's levee of darkness, built upon deception and rebellion, is designed to obstruct the path to righteousness. He seeks to decry the principles of godly living and to plunge humanity into a fallen state. His ultimate goal is to erode the foundations of faith, leaving souls stranded in the gloomy recesses of hopelessness.
Yet, in the face of this relentless assault, the light of God shines ever brighter. The victory, secured through Christ's sacrificial triumph over sin and death, serves as an indomitable beacon of hope. By trusting in Jesus, we can resist the Devil's temptations and overcome the moral degradation that threatens to engulf us.
As children of the Light, we are called to be vigilant, donning the armor of God to withstand the Devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:11). We must stand firm in our faith, relying on the Word of God as our unerring guide, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to navigate the treacherous waters of spiritual warfare.
In doing so, we not only safeguard our own souls but also become instruments of God's light in a darkened world. By sharing the Gospel and embodying the principles of God's truth, we can help dispel the Devil's shadows and lead others toward the divine light that pierces through the deepest darkness.
God’s creation of light demonstrates not only His boundless power, divine nature and creativity, but also His great love. Knowing this helps us walk with a stronger faith, which serves as an armor to deflect all the schemes of the Evil One. For as long as we have God's true light who is Jesus Christ, the Devil’s darkness cannot touch us.
Glory be to Him who made the light and who is the light of life.
