Foundation of Light

En’LIGHT’ening Study on Light and Dark– Michelle Schack

When I am happy, filled with joy and peace, I feel light. I feel I can show light. When I am relying on my connection to my Heavenly Father, I feel I can be more patient with those around me. When I rely on the Holy Spirit, I feel I have more energy to show love, compassion, and empathy. When I stay in prayer and thanksgiving to Jesus, I feel more strength to walk His path instead of my own. On the flip side, when I am feeling down, depressed, incapable, I feel darkness overtaking me. When I am focusing on the negative, not remaining in prayer, not reading His Word, relying on my own strength to face life challenges, I feel as though I am drowning in the darkness and can’t see the light. These opposites, light and dark, are spiritual as much, or more, than physical for me. If I had my choice, I would remain in the light and never choose to feel the darkness take over ever again! Oh wait! It is my choice! The stronger I grow in His Word, His Truth, and His Light, trusting Him, the easier it will become to stay in His light. It’s about complete surrender. It is about staying my mind on Him as it says in Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” Practicing what I have learned will allow me to make progress to shut out the dark! Light will overcome dark if I remember where light comes from. This fire to learn more about light and dark led me to do the following research into His Word. I have found it en’light’ening. I hope it will help you too. Come into the light with me as we explore the many passages He has for us on this subject. 

John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Physical Light

When we walk into a dark room, what is the first thing we do? Turn on a light. We do this for many reasons; so we can see, so we can find something, so we don’t trip and hurt ourselves, because we are afraid of the dark, or more specifically, what’s in the dark. Darkness makes us uncomfortable. We fear the unknown. Turning on a light, eases us; calms us. 

The unaided human eye can detect a literal light source as small as the flame of a candle from up to 1 ½ miles away. Which means light is extremely difficult to hide the brighter it is unless covered or snuffed out entirely. When light can’t be seen, it is useless. Light can instantly overcome darkness, but darkness cannot overcome light.

Spiritual Light

Spiritual light is so much more powerful than literal light. I wanted to know more about spiritual light so I started researching His Word for answers and clarity. Searching the English Standard Version (ESV) ‘light’ appears in this version of the Bible 277 times. ‘Dark,’ 200 times. I found 68 verses where both “light” and “dark” appeared together in the Bible. Light and dark are opposites and have several meanings each. Light references day, morning, lamp, good, sweet, warmth, wisdom, well-being, rescue, prosperity, rise, hope, and Jesus. 

Called To Be The Light

‘Light in the darkness’ is a common theme throughout the Bible. It serves as a reminder of God’s consistent presence no matter what we are going through. In Isaiah, we read that the coming Messiah will be a “light for all nations.” He will bring “light to those who live in darkness.” In John, Jesus himself is referred to as the “light of the world.” In Matthew, Jesus’ followers are called to be “the light of the world.” We are called to shine our lights for all to see, being counter to the culture. God’s light in our lives attracts people to us. The more we reflect God’s character, the more people will be drawn to us. Sing it with me…’this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.’

Isaiah 42:6-7 – “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”

Isaiah 9:2 – The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your lightshine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 – But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 John 1:5-7 – This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:8-14 – For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Acts 13:47 – For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Source of LIGHT

God’s instructions call Christians to use His teachings regarding light in the darkness to live our lives. We are to be a source of light and hope in encouragement to those around us, shining the love of Christ to those going through difficult situations. Our response to the unpleasantness of other people is supposed to emulate the qualities of light. We are called to be different. Light-giving. Responding kindly instead of with darkness in our heart. In John, we are called to trust the promise of God that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1:5 – The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Romans 2:19 – And if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness.

Romans 13:12 – The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

In The Beginning

In Genesis 1, we learn that darkness is all there was. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. That was the first day. He knew that was the first task in His work. 

Genesis 1:4 – And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:5 – God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Genesis 1:18 – To rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

God Lightens Our Darkness

He is the light in the darkness, so He sees even in the dark. Wherever He is, there is light. God promises light to the upright and righteous. Living in God’s presence will change our lives. Either we will turn from Him or flee from our sin and turn to Him. Each of us is born into this world full of darkness. We can’t rise above the darkness into the light without turning to Him because He is light. Those who have come to know God through His Son Jesus Christ are the ones who have been delivered from spiritual darkness and walk in the light of God’s life.

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Job 29:3 – And by his light I walked through darkness.

2 Samuel 22:29 – For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.

Psalm 118:27 – The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 18:28 – For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

Psalm 139:12 – Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Isaiah 45:7 – I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Daniel 2:22 – He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

Micah 7:8-9 – Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my causeand executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.

Psalm 43:3 – Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!

Psalm 119:130 – The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Psalm 4:6 – There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

Psalm 89:15 – Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Lord, they walk in the light from you face.

Isaiah 2:5 – O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 30:26 – Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

Isaiah 60:19-20 – The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

Psalm 112:4 – Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Isaiah 50:10 – Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. 

Isaiah 58:10 – If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Isaiah 60:1-3 – Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Wisdom Brings Light From The Lord

Light and dark are compared to wisdom and folly or ignorance. Wisdom comes from the Lord. We gain wisdom through His Word, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and a deepening relationship with our Heavenly Father. Without seeking wisdom through these resources, we are trapped in darkness by our ignorance. In Ecclesiastes 7:25 King Solomon rights “I turned my mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom, along with an account of things…” 

Ecclesiastes 2:13-14 – Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.

Isaiah 5:20 – Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Daniel 12:3 – And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Light and Vision/Seeing

Physical seeing and spiritual seeing are metaphors God uses to help us understand many teachings. In Isaiah 6:10 it says “Make the heart of this people dull. And their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Once we understand the teachings of our God, and the deeper our relationship with Him grows, we are brought into the light where we can see by His light. Seeing spiritually involves the recognition of a feeling or belief that comes from our divine creator. Looking past what we see with our own eyes and seeing what God wants us to see is tapping into a spiritual connection only He can provide. Read these verses with the understanding that God is calling us to see much more than our physical sight capabilities.

Luke 11:34-36 – Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore, be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Proverbs 29:13 – The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

Ecclesiastes 11:7 – Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

Isaiah 29:18 – In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.

1 John 2:8-11 – At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Warning

We are warned by Paul to not be unequally yoked to unbelievers. Being yoked to someone refers to a close partnership or deep bond that unites two people closely in their life’s direction. When oxen are unequally yoked, they cannot perform the work given to them. Instead of working together, they are at odds with one another. We are not supposed to associate with unbelievers or believers who don’t actually live for Jesus, lest we fall off God’s path and plan for our walk with Him. He has big plans for our lives. We have freedom of choice to either follow His direction or choose to create our own path. Hint: His path is always better than anything we can create without Him. In these verses we receive the warning to make sure we are aligning ourselves with like-minded Christians that put Him first.

2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Ephesians 5:6-14 – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.Therefore, do not become partners with them; for at one time, you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. 

DARK

Physical darkness itself isn’t inherently evil. It is the absence of light. It’s the things people do in the dark because they don’t want them known which creates the problem. It’s a place to hide. But not from God. Spiritual darkness is the state of a person who is living apart from God who is light. Those souls have not come to know light. Dark represents itself as night, evening, hidden, judgment, evil, bitter, destruction, folly, wickedness, unfruitful, distress, clouds, calamity, gloom, blind, sin, and Satan.

John 3:18-19 – Whoever believe in Jesus is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because, he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Job 18:5 – The light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine.

Isaiah 59:9 – Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

Proverbs 4:18-19 – But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Isaiah 50:11 – Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.

Ezekiel 32:7-8 – When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord God.

Isaiah 29:15 – Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”

Psalm 107:10-11 – Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

1 Samuel 2:9 – He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in the darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.

Psalm 11:2 – For behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.

Psalm 4:19 – The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Isaiah 8:22 – And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

Brought Into the Light

I know from personal experience that if I have made a mistake, by accident or on purpose by a bad decision, unless I humbled myself, declared my mistake, and asked for forgiveness, it brought a heavy darkness I couldn’t seem to put down. God can’t shine His light through me when I’m hiding. Not only is it holding me hostage, but it also hinders what He wants to do for me and through me. We learn from scripture that things done in darkness will be brought into the light.

Luke 12:3 – Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Matthew 10:27 – What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

1 Corinthians 4:5 – Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Isaiah 9:2 – The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 42:16 – And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

1 Corinthians 4:5 – Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Psalm 107:14 – He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and burst their bonds apart.

Ezekiel 34:12 – As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

Darkness at Crucifixion

God had to turn His back to the sin that Jesus carried to the cross to allow His plan to be finished. This caused darkness to fall over the land when Jesus was crucified. After He was resurrected, he first showed Himself to Mary Magdalene in the light early Sunday morning. This brings to mind the saying, ‘It’s darkest before the dawn.’ Because we have Jesus, we have hope, we have the promise of light even after the darkness. We don’t have to remain in the dark. Belief and surrender to Jesus is the way.

Matthew 27:45 – Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 

Mark 15:33 – And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Luke 23:44 – It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 

Mark 16:9 – Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene.

BUT JESUS! 

 As foretold in the Old Testament, Jesus has come to save us. He is the light in the darkness. He is the hope and assurance of God’s promises. Without Him there is no light or hope. By His words came all that we know, and by His words come light and knowledge, healing and hope. Jesus spoke words that changed the course of history as well as the course of our lives today. Until we step out of the dark and into the light, we’re not with Jesus or for Jesus. People will know we are Christians by our love; our light. This is because Jesus is the most important light of all. We are light only when we allow His light to shine through us. 

John 12:46 – I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

John 1:9 – The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Acts 26:18 – To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

John 1:4 – In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Lamentations 3:24 – “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Matthew 4:16 – The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.

Luke 1:79 – To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

John 12:35-36 – So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

2 Corinthians 4:6 – For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Second Coming of Christ

When Jesus returns the sun, moon and stars will be darkened and light withheld. We are instructed to enjoy the light while we have it. However, Christians have God’s promise that after the darkness a new land will be created and include His light. That is where our hope lies. If we hold onto this promise, this hope, we already know the battle has been won! However, He doesn’t want us to sit around on our promise of hope and do nothing while we await His return. We have been commissioned to save more souls for God! Which means getting out there and shining our light to bring as many others as we can into the light with us! He can use us wherever we are if we just let Him. 

Ecclesiastes 12:2 – Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain.

Isaiah 13:10 – For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.

Jeremiah 13:16 – Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.

Matthew 24:29 – Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Mark 13:24 – But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.

Revelation 8:12 – The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.

Pray With Me

Heavenly Father, thank you for all that You are! You are Holy! Thank you for saving me from the darkness and giving me a better way to live that You have designed. Please forgive me for the times when I am stuck in the darkness, forgetting or choosing not to let You shine through me. Please help me surrender to You daily…hourly…every minute! Please help me consistently seek to shine Your love, Your light, and Your life through my actions and words to those around me. Cleanse my heart of all darkness. I seek to live in Your light. Send your Holy Spirit to live inside me each day to guide me in sharing Your spiritual light with others. When I am feeling down and incapable, let Your light shine even brighter so others give You all the glory. Give me Your eyes to see Your light shining in others. Sadness overcomes me for those who are living apart from You; who are in spiritual darkness. I pray they come to know You through your Son Jesus Christ, being delivered from the spiritual darkness to walk in Your light. Guide and direct me to fulfill Your purpose and plan for my life. Please bless the one reading this right now. May they seek to live in Your light, walk in Your will, receive many blessings and give You all the honor and glory. I affirm today and every day that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, that He died on a cross for my sins, and that He rose again to join you in Heaven. Jesus, thank you for your promise that you are interceding for me to our Father, and for giving me an example of what pleases Him. Thank you for being the Light of the World. Holy Spirit, thank you for communicating my heart to our Father and giving me energy to continue doing God’s work. All this I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen!