Don’t Make Light of the Confusing Meanings of ‘Light’

While visitors from other countries were spending time in the United States for FIFA World Cup soccer and raving about many aspects of American life, I wonder what they thought about our language. We might not realize it, but American English can be difficult to learn and comprehend. 

Take a simple example: the word “light.” If you want to pin it down to just one meaning, good luck. We have light beer and light butter, meaning fewer calories than the regular varieties. We might opt for a light snack or a light meal – something to appease hunger pangs but not enough to stuff our stomachs.

 

Some of us like to engage in light humor, which probably won’t provoke a belly laugh but might prompt at least a smile and a chuckle. I’ve long been a fan of light classical music – it’s not as lengthy and complex, and more geared for easy listening.

 

We’re careful not to make light of some topics, meaning they should be treated with proper respect and seriousness. Then we have light moments, when we’re not as serious. At times we’re asked to perform light duty, meaning tasks that won’t require a lot of time and energy. There are even more ways for “lighting” up our vocabulary, but can you see why a foreigner could get confused by our everyday jargon?

 

There’s also the most common and important use for the word light: That which refers to things like celestial orbs, light bulbs, flashlights and chandeliers. Even then, the light we find in nature has at least three intrinsic properties: Luminiferous, which means to illuminate, produce, yield or transmit light; actinic, which causes chemical changes, like photosynthesis; and calorific, which involves the production of heat or energy.

 

Light also carries great spiritual significance. It plays a starring role at the start of the Creation account. After noting, “the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep,” Genesis 1:3-5 tells us light was the first item on God’s to-do list. “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.”

 

What would be the point of everything else He planned to do without light by which to see it? The passage explains God commanded, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth” (Genesis 1:14-15). This is speaking, of course, about the sun, moon and stars.

 

As impressive as that was, biblical teaching about God and light was just beginning. The gospel of John opens by revisiting the Creation, declaring the preincarnate Christ was very much involved in it:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:1-4)

 

Jesus didn’t shy away from being compared to light. Speaking to a crowd in the temple courts that included teachers of the Jewish law and Pharisees, He underscored the concept: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘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).

 

Later Jesus used a man who had been born blind as an object lesson while preparing to heal the person of his blindness. He told His disciples, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). He came to bring light, physically and spiritually.

 

Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar room, perhaps in a hotel or the home of a friend, and tried to negotiate your way to the bathroom in the dark? An obvious solution is to turn on a light. Instantly the darkness is dispelled, and you can see the way clearly. In a far more profound way, sin and rebellion against God have plunged the world into spiritual darkness. Jesus, in declaring He is “the light of the world,” is the only remedy for this universal problem.

 

He knew His physical presence on earth was temporary. Forty days after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus ascended to heaven. In his stead, He left what we might call His “light brigade.” Speaking to a huge crowd during His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus announced to His followers, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

 

We aren’t The Light, but through our lives – our actions, words, the way we conduct our lives – we can be used by God to bring His light into our world filled with the darkness of unbelief, evil and hopelessness. As the apostle Paul wrote to Christ followers in ancient Corinth, a city notorious for its pagan practices: 

“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 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).

 

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He didn’t abandon us; He gave the Holy Spirit, who abides in every believer. Only in that way could “the Light of the World” pass along the responsibility for us to represent Him as “the light of the world.” We can’t create the Light – but like moons, we can reflect it!

We Might Not Be Suns, But We Can Be Moons

If you haven’t noticed the visual wonders all around us, you haven’t been looking. Because everywhere we look it seems there’s something else at which to marvel. From region to region, state to state, city to city, there are always spectacular places to visit, incredible vistas to enjoy.

The earth is filled with natural wonders, and I’ve had the opportunity to see some of them in person. The Grand Canyon stands out in my mind, along with the Rocky Mountains, beaches on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the tulip fields of Holland, and the rolling hills of the Tuscany region of Italy.

 

It’s nice being able to travel and ‘see the sights,’ but to enjoy wonders of our universe we need look no farther than up. The countless stars in the sky boggle the imagination. For us they are beyond numbering, but Psalm 147:4 tells us God does: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” The wonders of creation are all around us – and just over our heads.

 

One of those stars, the sun at the center of our own solar system, has enough splendor of its own. To me, there’s nothing more spectacular than a sunset or a glorious sunrise. Then there’s the moon, the earth’s satellite which has fascinated humankind through the centuries. Men have walked on the moon, but it’s still filled with mystery. Its phases, eclipses, nights when it seems larger and more brilliant than others. I wonder if we appreciate enough the grandeur on display in the sky above us.

 

In thinking about stars, our sun, and the moon, I’m reminded of exhortations we find in the Scriptures for all of God’s children. Did you know that to the unbelieving world around us we’re to shine like stars?

 

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, in a description of events concerning the end of times, it says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

 

This is not the only place where followers of Christ are described in this way. Writing to believers in ancient Philippi, the apostle Paul encouraged their faithfulness “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved, generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…” (Philippians 2;15-16).

 

Reading these passages, it’s important to recognize we’re not told to be stars but to be like stars. There’s a great difference. The stars – our sun being one of them – generate their own light. The moon, however, does not. It merely reflects the light of the sun.

 

In a similar yet far more profound way, as we go about our daily lives – at work, at school, in our neighborhoods, as we travel – we’re to be similar to the moon, reflecting the light of One who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5).

 

Because of this, Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl, Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

 

As we spend time with Christ in reading and studying the Word of God, praying and seeking to abide in Him (John 15:7) so that we increasingly come to know Him and not just know about Him, His light will shine increasingly in us and through us, bringing much needed light to an ever-darkening world.

 

Has anyone ever asked you, “What’s different about you?” or commented, “I’ve noticed something different about you”? Could it be that without realizing it, they’re seeing the light of Christ beaming through you? If not, pray and ask the Lord that it will be so. That’s what He desires of us.

At the End of the Day … It’s Night!

Have you ever heard of Utqiagvik, Alaska? I hadn’t either until recently. Formerly known as Barrow, Utqiagvik (don’t ask me how to pronounce it) is the northernmost town in Alaska. So what? Well, if you lived there, right now you would be in the midst of a 67-day “polar night.”

Because of its geographic location and the tilt of the earth’s axis, this town experiences perpetual night annually for 65 days or more. The sun won’t rise there this year until Jan. 23, and then just for a few minutes. If it happens to be cloudy, too bad! That’s a long time to be in the dark!

 

The flip side of this natural phenomenon is that the more than 4,000 citizens of Utqiagvik can enjoy the midnight sun all summer – 80 days or more of uninterrupted daylight. I’ve heard of golf enthusiasts eagerly playing 18 holes at midnight during this all-light-all-night season.

 

Getting back to that long, long night of northern Alaska, most of us would consider going more than 60 days without any sunlight unbearable. We complain when we shift from Daylight Time to Standard Time and “night” descends before 6 p.m. Imagine going somewhere for lunch and it’s still pitch-dark? 

 

So what? Well, for one thing light is an essential part of life. It’s the catalyst for photosynthesis, the process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize food from carbon dioxide and water, producing the green pigment chlorophyll and generating oxygen. Also, sunlight is valuable for health reasons. Sunlight helps the human body to produce vitamin D; a good remedy for newborn babies suffering from jaundice is exposure to sunlight.

 

Most important, light is a critical part of the biblical narrative. In the creation account, God’s first act was to declare, “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Then on the fourth day the Lord said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light to separate the day from the night,,,. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars” (Genesis 1:14-19).

 

Over the six biblical days of creation, God devoted two of them entirely to creating light, including the sun, moon, and stars. Certainly, one reason was so the animals and human beings He’d later create could see and appreciate what He had made. But there was much more to it than that.

 

In the Scriptures, darkness is often synonymous with sin, evil, and separation from God. Isaiah 50:10 admonishes, “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.” Darkness – no offense intended for the people of Utqiagvik, Alaska – is not somewhere to remain in. 

 

The New Testament offers the same view. For instance, Ephesians 5:8 proclaims, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” The source of this light is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

One of the major prophecies pointing to the coming Messiah proclaimed, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2). Early in His ministry, Jesus recited this verse to announce He had come to fulfill those prophetic words (Matthew 4:16).

 

The first chapter of the Gospel of John, echoing the opening words of Genesis, reveals, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (John 1:1-4,9).

 

Jesus left no room for misunderstanding when He announced, “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). In another setting, Jesus said, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).

 

Charles H. Spurgeon, the famous British preacher of the mid- to late-19^th century, observed there are three distinct kinds of light from a theological perspective: Physical light; “gospel light” that reveals eternal realities, and spiritual light provided through the Holy Spirit to enable us to understand biblical truth.

 

Just as we require physical light to see and comprehend earthly things, God shows us eternal truth through His Word, and His Spirit enables us to embrace and apply His truth for the “nasty now-and-now” as well as for “the sweet by and by.”

 

Many of us agree that our world in plagued by unprecedented levels of darkness in many forms. Nevertheless, there’s good news: God hasn’t abandoned His creation, and He’s given His followers the privilege of shining His light to help in dispelling the darkness. As Jesus said, “You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

 

The people of Utqiagvik, Alaska might have no choice but to endure physical darkness for about nine weeks every year. However, despite the advancing spiritual darkness in society, we’ve been entrusted with the responsibility of shining the light of Christ to everyone in the world around us. “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18).

What Doth This New Year Hold Forth?

When this year began, did you make any resolutions – or set some goals, as I prefer to do? Were you able to achieve every one of them? If you did, you’re either an exceptional person, or you have difficulty telling the truth sometimes. Because no one could have anticipated and planned for the turmoil and upheaval 2020 would bring.

 

But why dwell on that now? We’ve got a brand new year ahead of us, barely a blink of an eye away. Aren’t we all ready for a fresh start? It’s time to relegate 2020 to hindsight, right? Can’t wait to see it fading in the rearview mirror!

 

Alas, even though we’ll be changing dates on our calendars, checkbooks and other stuff, when Jan. 1, 2021 dawns, it will be just another day – and the problems of the year past won’t suddenly disappear. Based on what we’ve gone through over the past 365 days, it might be appropriate for the entrance to 2021 to be littered with signs like “Beware!” “Proceed With Caution!” and “Enter At Your Own Risk!”

 So while we’re finalizing our resolutions, goals or plans for the new year, recent experience suggests that we prepare to be nimble, adaptable and flexible. Because things certainly aren’t going to go quite like we expect or hope. They never do. But we don’t have to feel like we’re moving forward blindly, like a ship in a storm without an anchor.

 

For me, the Scriptures provide confidence that the unknown that's lying ahead of us is already charted territory. In the words of the familiar psalm, we’re assured, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for [God is] with me…” (Psalm 23:4). Those brief words carry great depth of meaning.

 

In shepherd terminology, this referred to the unwavering trust the sheep had in their caretaker. What might lurk in the shadows could have disconcerted them, but knowing their shepherd would protect them, the sheep could proceed without hesitation.

 

It’s the same for us. Even when things seem darkest, the Lord is already there to provide us with the light we need. He’s “scoped things out” for us in advance. As Jesus Christ promised, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). If I were trekking at night through a dark forest, I’d feel much better if I had an experienced guide equipped with a bright light to show the way.

 

Another verse reassures us, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). That’s a passage that has often served me like a spiritual security blanket.

 

Then there’s my all-time favorite, Proverbs 3:5-6, which admonishes, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Whenever I have leaned on my own understanding during 2020, it only made things seem more confusing. The virus, politics, and social unrest were a devastating triple play. Whenever I had the sense to shift my thinking and trust in the Lord, however, order always seemed to dispel the chaos.

 

Just before ascending to heaven, Jesus offered this assurance: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). We find a similar promise recounted in Hebrews 13:5, when He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” After which the writer adds, “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”

 

I’ve been to strange cities a number of times. Unfamiliarity was one thing, but being directionally challenged, those occasions could have been daunting, even fearful experiences. But each time I was in the company with a friend or trusted guide who was very familiar with the city and knew exactly where we needed to go. 

 

In a broader sense, life is much like that. We can fear the future – especially in view of recent experiences. But as we follow the One who already knows what lies ahead, we can let go of our anxieties and uncertainties, trusting that He will ultimately take us safely to our intended destination. So we can say with confidence, “2021, ready or not, here we come!” 

Never Make Light of the Importance of Being Light

On a dark evening, even a little light makes a big difference.

In my last post, I wrote about the indispensable, universal importance of salt for everyday life. We should consider light as well, very different from salt but also vital to life in all its forms – and similarly endowed with unique properties.

Among these are calorific (producing heat), actinic (serving as a catalyst for chemical reactions), and luminiferous (transmitting and yielding light). Whenever we walk around on a very cloudy, wintry day, or attempt to find our way around an unfamiliar room enshrouded in darkness, we realize the folly of underestimating the necessity of light.

We even talk about “seeing the light,” being able to comprehend or appreciate a truth, principle or insight previously hidden from our understanding. We talk admiringly about certain people with the capability of “lighting up a room” by their presence and personality. When people get attention, we say they’re in the spotlight, and if they gain fame, they’re in the “limelight.” (Does anyone ever get into the lemon-light? Probably wouldn’t be a good thing.)

From the start, God declared
light to be good.

Studying the Bible, light is clearly a central theme. In recounting God’s creation, it records His first spoken words: “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” (Genesis 1:3-4).

During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ never made light of light. Immediately after telling His followers, “You are the salt of the earth…,” He added, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). In addition to functioning much like salt in their spheres of influence, Jesus’ disciples were admonished to serve as light to dispel the darkness.

Jesus didn’t stop at informing His hearers they were, “the light of the world.” He described Himself in a similar way: “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). In telling His hearers that they, too, were to serve as the light of the world, Jesus was directing them to carry His light to dispel the darkness in the world around them.

Twice the Scriptures give us this analogy: Daniel 12:3 declares, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” And Philippians 2:15 warns against needless complaining or arguing, “so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”

Nowhere, however, does God command us to generate light on our own; our calling is to reflect the light of Christ. In effect, we’re to be more like the moon, which possesses no light of its own, but reflects the brilliant rays of the sun, illuminating otherwise dark nights.

One would think that light is always desirable, unless you’re wanting a good night’s sleep, in which case a darkened room is often helpful. But as the Bible points out, there are those whose preference is to remain in the dark. Isaiah 5:20 declares, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

Why anyone would choose darkness over light confounds most of us, but we see the reality of this every day. All we need to do is watch the news, skim through much of today’s TV programming, or observe what’s happening in our communities. Light may be hard for some, especially if they’ve been in the dark too long – its glare can be almost blinding. As a consequence, darkness seems the environment of choice for many.

Despite this, our hope remains strong. Jesus Christ is the ultimate solution, the “spotlight” to expose the gathering evil that seems to press upon us. As the gospel of John opens, it informs us, “In him was life, and that life was the Light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5). Let’s pray God will use us to help in making the Light more comprehensible.