Prayer:
I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life (Psalms 56:12-13).
Oh Lord, my Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth (Psalm 8:9). You are the great creator. You have made all things and have brought light to our eyes so that we can see; both physically and spiritually. Help us today to enjoy the beauty of your creation and at the same time to see the spiritual light in a deeper way that it would impact our every action. Amen
Main Scripture: Read Genesis Chapter 1.
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day (Genesis 1:3-5).
Associated Scriptures:
Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalms 4:6-8).
You are resplendent with light (Psalms 76:4).
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 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 the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
Correlative Quotes:
WHEN the human mind is on the stretch of emotion, whether it is under the influence of grief or joy, it often thinks that the whole world is in sympathy with itself. It seems to wrap the mantle of the universe round about its spiritual nature as a garment. If it is joyous, it puts on nature as a spangled robe, but if it is wretched, it finds its sackcloth and ashes in the world round about it. When the heart is happy, nature seems to ring marriage peals in unison with the music within the heart. Let the eyes be clear, and all nature will be bright! The earth seems glad when we are so. On the other hand, it is a part of the nature of grief to be able to transpose itself into the world around.[1] – Charles Spurgeon
God has thus divided time between light and darkness, because he would daily remind us that this is a world of mixtures and changes. In heaven there is perfect and perpetual light, and no darkness at all; in hell, utter darkness, and no gleam of light. In that world between these two there is a great gulf fixed; but, in this world, they are counterchanged, and we pass daily from one to another, that we may learn to expect the like vicissitudes in the providence of God, peace and trouble, joy and sorrow, and may set the one over-against the other, accommodating ourselves to both as we do to the light and darkness, bidding both welcome, and making the best of both. [2] - Matthew Henry
God caused it (light) to shine by his simple command. He said, "Let there be light, and there was light." The fact that it was produced by "his saying so" is referred to here by Paul (2 Corinthians 4:6) by his use of the phrase "Who saying," or speaking the light to shine from darkness.[3] – Albert Barnes
Study:
Light is remarkable. It is something we take for granted every day, but it's not something we stop and think about very often or even try and define. Let's take a few minutes and try and understand some things about light. Simply stated, light is nature's way of transferring energy through space. We can complicate it by talking about interacting electric and magnetic fields, quantum mechanics, and all of that, but just remember--light is energy.[4] – Bill Blair
Light is an interesting study if you are looking to be wowed by big words and theoretical phases. If you love double talk (Abbott and Costello or Laurel and Hardy style) and enjoy seeing experts squirm, ask them to explain what light is. Basically, science, in general, would tell us that light has energy but no mass. Therefore, it is not a particle.
Physicists don’t completely understand light and that’s why its study fits into the category of “Theoretical Physics.” This quote definitely applies to the scientific explanation of light, “light is one of those things that we don't tend to understand.”[5]
The one thing to which scientists and theologians can agree is that light is energy. It is the source of that energy that is in question. Scientists don’t know the source, but the Bible says that the energy that makes up light is from God. However, not only is it from God, it is God. God is light (1 John 1:5).
There are two different expressions of God’s light. One is physical light. It is the light that helps us see God’s creation. The second kind of light is spiritual light. This light helps us to see the spiritual things of God. The truth of one substantiates, illustrates, and strengthens the truth of the other. According to the Bible and science, there are many things that we can know about light in general.
This is also true of God’s spiritual light. Jesus told us not to hide our light under a basket (Matthew 5:15). Don’t thwart the light of God. When His light, the Word, is spoken it spreads throughout the hearts and minds of those who hear it. Changes are made in lives as a result. We see the light and we react according to it, either to accept or to reject it, but we always react.
Just as a laser’s light will change a physical object, the light of God’s truth changes our heart and forms and shapes it to conform to His will for us. He is the creator. Hebrews 4:12 illustrates this truth when it says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Mankind has been around for about 7,000 years. We have had the benefit of God’s light for a long time also. God’s physical light helps us see the magnificence of His creation. God’s spiritual light allows us to see the benefits of His love, grace, and mercy toward us.
The fact that God’s light has been around so long and the characteristics of that light (energy) have stayed constant for all those years, lends credibility to the sureness that God will always be there for us.
God’s spiritual light is faster. We speak, and God already knows what we are going to say. When Daniel was finished praying for the forgiveness of his and Israel’s sin, the angel Gabriel came to him and said, at the first word of your prayer God answered it (Daniel 9-21-23). That’s faster than the speed of light.
Summary Statement:
There are two kinds of light, physical light and spiritual light. Both are created by God. God is light, both the physical and spiritual. Physical light is God since it is God’s energy.
Spiritual light is God because He indwells that light. God created all things for His Glory. Psalm 96:1-9 and 1 Chronicles 16:23-29, “Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. In addition, Isaiah 42:12 says, “Let them give glory to the LORD And declare His praise in the coastlands.”
Light, then, is not an exception. The light itself brings glory to God since that light is a display of the power of God in the universe. God has given us physical light so that we can see the majesty of His creation in contrast to the devastating power of darkness.
Just as physical light exposes the physical world, spiritual light opens our eyes to the spiritual world. In all your creation we give you glory, Lord God Almighty.
Live in and for the light of Jesus (1 John 1:7).
Lesson within the Lesson:
What is physical light and where did it come from?
Why is understanding physical light important to the believer?
How are physical light and spiritual light similar?
Physical light is energy with no mass. How does this fact substantiate God as the creator?
[1] Charles Spurgeon, The Joy of Redemption, Sermon #2450, Public Domain,, 1896, spurgeongems.org/vols40-42/chs2450.pdf. P. 1.
[2] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (Unabridged), Volume VI, (Acts to Revelation), Public Domain, 1706, bitimage.dyndns. org/.
[3] Albert Barnes, Notes Explanatory and Practical, Public Domain, 1829.
[4] Dr. William P. Blair, The Basics of Light, violet.pha.jhu.edu/
~wpb/spectroscopy/basics.html
[5] bbc.com/earth/story/20150731-what-is-a-ray-of-light-made-of.
[6]Adapted from physicscentral.com/experiment/askaphysicist/physics -answer.cfm?uid=20120221015143
[7] grc.nasa.gov/www/k12/Numbers/Math/MathematicalThinking, how_fast_is_the_speed.
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