I expect that some of you will have at some time been to the caves in Derbyshire, or even in other places around the world. My experience in the Derby caves was very illuminating (or not). Our guide having taken us down to the lowest cave and ensured that we were all in attendance, proceeded to switch off the lights. It was the first time that I had experienced total darkness. Not like the darkness in your own house, when after a while shapes and objects can been seen. There was total and utter blackness with no relief, unless the lights were put back on.
Perhaps its seems strange to start an article on light with the thought of darkness, but having been in total darkness the real meaning of light comes into sharp focus. The themes of light and darkness run all through the Old and New Testament. At the beginning of creation in Genesis 1 v.2 'and darkness covered the face of the deep', just like that darkness in that cave. The story changes in verse three 'God said let there be light'. With the coming of the light creation could come into being and life began.
But the understanding of light and darkness changed as the people understood more about their journey with God. The light represented goodness, wholeness, truth, understanding and the darkness represented evil, and confusion. It was said that people did evil things under the cover of darkness so that their acts would not be seen.
There are many examples in the Old Testament of the positive action of light. Many can be found in the Psalms i.e. Psalm 43 v.3 'O send your light and your truth, and let them lead me'. The great verse in Isaiah 9 v.2 in relation to the coming of Christ into the world we read 'the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light'. One of the great themes of the New Testament is to do with light and illumination. John sets the theme and links Jesus right back to the beginning of creation when we read in John 1 v.4 'in him was life, and the life was the light of all people'. One of the great 'I AM' sayings from John's gospel chapter 8 v 12 'again Jesus spoke to them saying 'I am the light of the world'. This has Jesus saying I have come to bring direction to your life, I have come to show you through my life what God is like, I have come to show you the love of God and so dispel that darkness that you we living in.
At the beginning of Luke's gospel he tells his listeners in chapter 1 v.79 about Jesus ' to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace'.
The world in which we find ourselves today is still one living in darkness and confusion, of mistrust and hatred. As Christians today we have the responsibility to being the 'people of the light'. By the way we live and act we become beacons that shine and point the way to Jesus. In Matthew chapter 5 v.14 Jesus commands his disciples and therefore us 'you are the light of the world ... .. let your light shine before others etc'. May we be given the strength through the Holy Spirit to be those people who follow Jesus the Light of the World.
John Ayers
(all bible quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version)
Pages compiled by Peter Fletcher
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