True Light

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” - Matthew 5:14

From the very beginning of recorded time, light has been welcomed in the darkness. When the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep (Genesis 1:2), God’s voice broke the silence…”Let there be light,” He said. And there was light. Scattering the darkness and setting into motion the Creator’s handiwork. God proceeded to separate the light from the darkness, calling them day and night. It was good. And there was evening and morning…the first day.

Have you ever wondered why God started with light? Notice He didn’t start with sunlight because the sun was not created until the fourth day (Genesis 1:16). This light that first pierced the darkness was something greater than the sun. This was a different light. And while I don’t claim to have all of the answers, I do know that John 1:9 describes Jesus as, “the true light that gives light to everyone.” I also know that in John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”

That pattern established on the first day of creation, light penetrating darkness, has been repeated over and over and over. Every morning, light is welcomed as it dispels the darkness of night. And while each morning’s light is from the sun, it still serves as a reminder of the True Light, Jesus. Just like in the beginning, the world sits in darkness, and in comes the light…morning after morning after morning. And just like in the beginning, there is a greater Light that shines into the darkness of the world. In fact, that Light has been magnified and multiplied, creating an army of light-bearers through the blood of Jesus.

As a Christ follower, do you think of yourself as the light of the world? Jesus said that His disciples are just that – the light of the world. He compares us to a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. This means that we are conspicuous if His Spirit lives in us because His Spirit brings His light. If we are surrendered to Christ, we cannot hide His light any more than a city on a hill can hide from view. Jesus is the True Light. If we have Jesus, we have True Light. And we have been saved, not to hoard this Light, but to share it with everyone around us living in darkness.

Jesus, I admit that it’s sometimes hard to think of myself as the light of the world; but I know that if Your Word says it, it is true. Please help me to remember that You have created me and redeemed me to be a light for Your kingdom. Teach me to trust Your Spirit to guide me to live as a light-bearer of the Gospel. In Your name I pray, Amen.