Light! It's a good thing!

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

Here is the first time anything is called good in the Bible. I think that most all human beings would agree with God that light is good. At least, we believe that light is better than the alternative, darkness. Physical light lets us recognize what is there around us at any moment. So, the light gives us the knowledge we would not have otherwise. The darkness does not give us any knowledge; in fact, darkness represents something frightening because it is unknown. Think about it. You don't see films that are supposed to be frightening have their scary scenes in well-lit rooms.

The light of God's creation is more than just physical light, however. It is also the light of wisdom, the light of knowledge, the light of love, and the light of life. It is most of all the light of His revelation to us. God reveals Himself to us through the light that is good.

God also separates light from darkness here as well. What is good cannot exist at the same time and in the same space as what is not good. It has been that way from this moment when God separated light from darkness. There can be light and darkness in a certain amount of space, but the two do not mix together.

It has been said, and I don't know if this is accurate, that a single lit candle in the darkness can be seen from over a mile away. If you have ever been in a dark place, lost and alone, then you know that time and space lose their meaning. Every second in the dark seems a lot longer than it really is. But if there is a light; if there is a light no matter how small, everything seems more hopeful.

I know that the world can sometimes seem like a very dark and unfriendly place. If you need some real light (and who of us doesn't?) remember that the New Testament book of 1 John, chapter 1 and verse 5 states that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. God is ready and able to push away the darkness of the world with His light, the light of Jesus who died for you. Come to the Light of the Lord. He's waiting for you.

Your joyfully loquacious believer
LEE