July 24, 2022
Morning Service

Genesis 1:1-5 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

    The first thing God did after creating the earth was to bring light into being. The word doesn't say God created darkness it was just there. If God had not gone the next step and spoken light into existence we would be like blind fish or crayfish living in darkness. God not only spoke light into existence but he set light apart from darkness by dividing the two.

    Some things light does: It illuminates and makes it possible for us to see so we don't stumble around in darkness. Light affects our emotions and moods, notice how problems seem more ominous at night and less so in the daytime. Dividing of light and dark also gives us a period of rest, chance to reboot, it's our circadian rhythm. Light is the driving force for phtosynthesis in plants without which life could not exist. Light is warming, soothing, calming and light keeps us healthy.

    Darkness on the other hand is..forboding, easy to wander astray in and we have a built in or inherent wariness of darkness.

Further on in Genesis 1... 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 

    God saw that dividing the light from darkness was good! Up until now this was all speaking about natural light of course but we can definitely liken this to spiritual light as well.     

 

What the Bible says about spiritual light: 1John 1:5-7  5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

    John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

 

    So there is a definite dividing line between dark and light in the Spiritual realm as well. Darkness has always been viewed as evil, bad, the power of Satan...in part...  Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God   

   We should want our path to be illuminated so we don't stumble around in darkness. Finding our way down the narrow path that leads to glory would be hazardous with so many stumbling blocks and pitfalls along the way. So logic should tell us that we should want to have our way fully lighted! Light drives away darkness and darkness has no power over light. Caving is the closest we can come to total darkness. As overpowering as total darkness is even a small light like a match or candle can easily be seen as it drives out darkness. We have the power to turn on light (be light) at any time. In Matthew 5 Jesus spoke the beatitudes to the multitude...this is also us Christian!  Matt 5:14-16  14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

What benefit is it to light a lamp and then cover it? No one can see the light. Brings to mind the song I'm sure we all remember from Sunday school or Bible school...This Little Light of Mine. I'm gonna let it shine...hide it under a bushel NO! I'm gonna let it shine! 

John 3:16-19 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

 

We live in a time of ever growing spiritual darkness! Make no mistake darkness has been here since the Serpant deceived in the Garden of Eden and it will be until Jesus comes back to conquer it forever. The reason is spelled out clearly in the previous scripture and I underlined it. Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil! Natural darkness is the preferred time for spiritual darkness because it hides and conceals.

     John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.                                                                     

    John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

    Be aware Satan himself realizes the difference between darkness and light and will disguise as an angel of light!

    2 Corinthians 11:12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

    Here is the thing to remember... John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it. [a]overcome it. This footnote says it best! the darkness did not overcome the light! Thank God!

 

Our prayer: Lord may the light of Jesus Christ shine through us and illuminate the dark and dying world around us. Keep us ever diligent to tend our light and keep it shining bright! Amen!