The Light Motif in the Bible

In the beginning, God brought light from the heavens to the earth (Gen 1:3–5; Ps 74:16), and in the end God Himself will be the light for the new heavens and the new earth (Is 60:19–20; Rev 21:24; 22:5). The Bible is a book revealing both light and dark imagery. Light shines into the darkness, but the darkness does not comprehend it (Jn 1:5). The reason is light imagery pertains to spiritual things, which the natural man cannot understand (1 Cor 2:14). I will attempt to shed some light on these spiritual things.

First, God is light (1 Jn 1:5). He is called, “Father of lights” (Jas 1:17). He dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim 6:16). He is figuratively clothed with light (Ps 104:2). He knows everything in the light and the darkness (Dan 2:22). Darkness has no place in God’s presence. Darkness is the imagery of separation from God. Hell is depicted in Scripture as “outer darkness” (Mt 8:12). The god of this world, Satan (2 Cor 4:4), operates in the domain of darkness (Col 1:13), having dominion (Acts 26:18); but he poses as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). He blinds the minds of men (2 Cor 4:4), so they cannot see the true light (Jn 1:9; 1 Jn 2:8), which is Gospel light (2 Cor 4:4). How do men respond to this tension between light and darkness?

Men love the darkness, rather than the light (Jn 3:19). Men who walk in darkness do not know where they are going (Jn 12:35), and they are sure to stumble (Jn 11:10). Darkness is the cloak for evil deeds, and men fear being exposed (Jn 3:20); but all things become visible when they are exposed by the light (Lk 8:17; Eph 5:13).

It was for this reason Jesus Christ came into the world (12:46), and He will bring to light the hidden things of men’s dark hearts (Mk 4:22; 1 Cor 4:5). The people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned (Mt 4:16). As a result, the darkness is passing away (1 Jn 2:8), and the night is almost gone (Rom 13:12). What more can we know about this great light?

Second, Jesus Christ is the light of the world (Jn 8:12), as we have noted, a light of revelation to the Gentiles (Lk 2:32). While Jesus was in the world, He was the light of the world (Jn 9:5), and those who followed Him had the Light of life (Jn 8:12). This life was the light of men (Jn 1:3), which enlightens every man who walks in it (Is 2:5; Jn 1:9). Jesus is called, “true light,” and he who does evil hates Him (Jn 3:20; 7:7; Rom 1:30). You can see it in their eyes (Mt 6:22–23) when the discussion turns to Jesus.

People are called out of the world and into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). People are to believe in this light so to become the sons of light (Jn 12:36). Everyone who believes in Him will not remain in the darkness (Jn 12:46), but she will abide in the light (1 Jn 2:10). Love and light go together, while hate and darkness are intertwined. People of light fellowship with one another (1 Jn 1:7), but they no longer have fellowship with darkness (2 Cor 6:14). They are now light in the Lord (Eph 5:8).

Third, the Holy Spirit has shone the light of God in regenerate Christian hearts (2 Cor 4:6). This light is the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. God has always led His people Israel with light (Ps 78:14). The fruit of this light is all goodness, righteousness, and truth (Eph 5:9).

There is a false light in men that is really darkness (Lk 11:34–35). Jesus said these people are more shrewd than the true sons of light (Lk 16:8), for such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds (2 Cor 11:13–15). They call evil good and good evil, exchanging darkness for light and light for darkness (Is 5:20).

Ironically, they even long for the day of the Lord’s judgment, but He inquires of them whether that will be a day of light or of darkness for them (Amos 5:18, 20). Many on that day will say to Judge Jesus, “Lord, Lord…,” but He will dismiss them from His glorious presence (Mt 7:21–23). In the end, we know true light excels darkness (Eccl 2:13), even though there are dark days before us (Zech 14:6–7).

Fourth, saved people are called, “children of light” (Eph 5:8), also “sons of light and sons of the day” (1 Thess 5:5).” As children of God, who is light, they dwell in the darkness (Mic 7:7–9) and are made to walk in the darkness (Lam 3:2), but they appear as lights in this perverse and crooked world of darkness (Phil 2:15). These blessed ones are to walk in the light, as He is in the light (Ps 89:15; 1 Jn 1:7), knowing they share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Col 1:12). What are the children of light to do with the light?

Fifth, enlightened men are given grace to preach the Gospel, which is called “light” (2 Tim 1:10), to bring to light the hidden mystery of God’s salvation (Eph 3:9). In this way, they live out Jesus’ teaching, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Mt 5:14).” Light also shines through Christian good works (Mt 5:16), but foremost in these works is the ministry of the word of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19), spoken in light and proclaimed from housetops (Mt 10:27). This light is for all men to see as they enter the place of light (Lk 11:33) where all things become light (Lk 8:16).

The darkness tries to overtake this light (Jn 12:35), but God’s people put on the armor of light (Rom 13:12), and proclaim light both to the Jewish people and the Gentiles (Acts 26:23), to whom Christ sends us, like Paul, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me (Jesus)” (Acts 26:18).

In summary, we have considered some of the light motif in the Bible. Understanding the relationship between God and His people in the world is the lesson in our study. God the Father is light. God the Son is light, and God the Spirit shines the light of God into the children of light. Christians shine the light of God in the world, a light of salvation to the nations (Is 49:6), and people from every nation will come to Christ’s light (Is 60:3). This gives us our identity and our function as Christians in the dark world we live in.

In conclusion, we are light in the Lord and light for the world. The closer we draw near to God, the more His light manifests in us and through us (Ps 36:9). Love abounds where there is God’s light shining, and therefore, we must learn to live and walk in the light as He is in the light. God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Ps 119:105) through the darkness.

God lights our lamps (Ps 18:28) through the unfolding of His Word giving us light, that is, understanding to the simple truth of God’s Word (Ps 119:130). So we draw near to God through the study and practice of His Word, where we learn of God, our light and our salvation (Ps 27:1). Come, arise and shine, for His light has come to us that it might extend to others (Is 60:1), until all of God’s people (Mt 6:22) and God’s beloved city are full of light (Rev 21–22).

David E. Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

January 14, 2021