The Light of the World

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

Light Before the Sun, Moon, or Stars?

We face a big mystery as soon as we read about creation in Genesis 1. Genesis 1:3-5 tells us that God brought light to His creation on the first day, before He created the sun and the moon on day four. Does this mean the creation sequence was out of order? Or is there a deeper meaning that reveals more about God in both creation and in our own lives?

Here in Genesis 1:3-5, the first recorded words of God are a proclamation: “Let there be light.” Before the sun, moon, and the stars were ever set into place, or anything else in creation existed, light was called into existence in God’s creation.  Why? The short answer is because light is God’s nature, and it is the foundation for life, order, and revelation.

Physically, light makes life possible. Without light, plants cannot grow, seasons cannot change, and living creatures cannot thrive. Spiritually, light represents God’s presence. It is part of His character to illuminate the darkness on earth and in us. So the first act of creation was God revealing Himself as the source of all that is good and holy.

He Separated the Light from the Darkness

Before God spoke light into being, the earth was described as formless and void. It was dark and shapeless. But Genesis 1:2 says God’s Spirit “hovered” over it. This is a picture of the beginning of the creative process that was entirely overseen by our Triune God – Father as designer, Son as builder who made God’s design visible, and Holy Spirit as energizer and protector.

When God spoke into the void, order began to replace chaos. Illumination began to replace darkness. Purpose began to replace the void. God’s first creative act was to declare something important about His nature. He is the only One who can dispel darkness in creation and in our lives.

What is light? Recently, I lost something in our car and had to use my flashlight to look in the dark places under the seats to find it. Light reveals what is hidden. It exposes what is harmful. It guides us to what is safe and true. After speaking light into existence, God declared it was good because it was purposeful and aligned with His perfect will.

Spiritually, God’s light reveals truth and gives guidance. John 1:5 declares, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” Psalm 119:1-5 declares, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.” God wants us to depend on Him for each next step, while trusting that there is also a path to follow.

The Bible has a sense of completeness from beginning to end. Genesis begins with creation, while Revelation brings all things together at the end. God’s first creative act was to speak light into being. But in Revelation 21:23 and 22:5, we find that the glory of God will give us light, and the sun and moon are no longer needed in Heaven.

Light for Our Lives

God’s first act of creation was to fill the world with His very nature, the light of His glory. Genesis 1:3-5 is more than a historical account of creation. It is an invitation. God’s light still shines. It still dispels darkness. It still guides us. If you are trying to fight the darkness alone, here are a couple of thoughts to help you walk in His Light.

A New Beginning – God is the author of new beginnings.  Just as He spoke light into the darkness on the first day of creation, He wants to shine His light into our hearts today. “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).

Formless and Void – We all face seasons of chaos when our lives feel formless and void. But darkness cannot coexist with light. Jesus declared in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.” If you feel like you are walking in darkness today, ask God to inject His light into your world and dispel that darkness.