Focus: Divine Light (Pt.2)

Text: Ps.36:9

"For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."

One thing about light is that it not only shines, but it also reveals. Under the light the hidden is revealed. Under the light darkness surrenders. With the light comes illumination and revelation. In the absence of light or revelation, mystery turns to misery. The light of knowledge makes success in life possible. Failure is rooted in ignorance. No one ever fails who knows how to succeed. Here is one of the reasons God called Paul to the gospel ministry. It was "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light…" (Act.26:18). Darkness obscures vision, impedes mobility, and steals away joy.

The natural man lacks the eyes to see things that are spiritual and invisible. Man cannot see except God gives him light. We can only see true realities with the light of God. When the light of God shone upon Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, he went momentarily blind physically, but it was then that he was able to see true reality - the reality of Christ. It was then that he saw himself as the chief of sinners. Before that time, he saw himself as a very righteous man and as a man who was engaged in a righteous cause. He even felt that he did the right thing persecuting and killing those who professed faith in Christ. He was zealous, but zealously wrong; sincere, but sincerely wrong. It was by the light of divine revelation that Simon Peter was able to know that the Master Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Lord said to him, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (Mt.16:17). In God's light Paul and Peter saw light.

The Lord Jesus Christ tells Nicodemus that except he was born again, that he could not see the kingdom of God. 

It is through spiritual rebirth that we receive the light of Christ in our souls.

We see nothing until God shows it to us. We see dimly or darkly until God touches our eyes for clarity of vision. Until God takes the blinder off our eyes we will continue to see men walking like trees. But the truth is: men walk; trees don't. Our vision will remain blurred until God casts His light on us and makes us see.

Let's take a look at some Scriptures in the book of Psalms that show us the significance of light. The psalmist says, "For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness" (Ps.18:28). Light is life, and light conquers darkness. The psalmist says,"The LORD is my light and my salvation…" (Ps.27:1). He says again, "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles" (Ps.43:3). Again he says, "Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment…" (Ps.104:2). Light guides; it shows the way. God clothes Himself with light. Indeed, He is light Himself. The psalmist continues, "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness" (Ps.112:4). Again, "God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light" (Ps.118:27).

The word of God enlightens us. The psalmist says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Ps.119:105). Again he says,

"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Ps.119:130). The light of God's word penetrates, permeates and pervades our inner world.

I end with two more Scriptures from the psalms. The psalmist says concerning God, "Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee" (Ps.139:12). God is pure light, and He is surrounded with the light of His own glory. He needs no light or darkness to be God. As a matter of fact, all other lights in His world bow in worship to God for being their maker. The psalmist says, "Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light" (Ps.148:3). The sun, the moon and the stars acknowledge and adore Him as the "Father of lights," and the psalmist was calling upon them - the whole body of lights - to praise the Lord.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter