By Rev. J. Loren Russell
Genesis 1:1-5 NKJV
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 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. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”
Webster’s Dictionary defines light as an “electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength that travels in a vacuum with a speed of 299,792,458 meters (about 186,000 miles) per second.” Traveling at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, light is virtually instantaneous to the human eye. Just for a moment, think of the origin of light and closely observe the scripture text. You will see that God existed before the beginning. In fact, the first verse in the first book says “In the beginning God created….”
On that first day of creation, there was no light. Water was present, but it was dark and the earth was formless. As the spirit of the Lord hovered over creation, a command came forth, “Let There Be Light!” For all intents and purposes, as soon as the command went forth, light appeared.
The first mention of light in the New Testament shifts the focus from electromagnetic radiation to the divine presence of light; “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16 KJV). This light is the promised divine light of the world.
Electromagnetic radiation is needed to navigate the obstacles in the world, but divine light is needed to navigate the ups and downs of life. Without electromagnetic radiation, we would be relegated to a world of darkness, but without divine illumination, we would live a life in darkness and be condemned to an even worse eternity.
The light that illuminated the world was a gift that didn’t have to be chosen. But the light that is mentioned in John 8:12 is His plan for your life; “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (KJV). This is a promise of an eternity with Him. If you choose to follow Him, your soul will be illuminated and you will inherit an eternity with Him! Just look at John 14: 2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (KJV).
So, in the words of the creator, the one who sits high and looks low, “Let There Be Light!”
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio (internet), Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen here or by phone at 626-226-1448. Be sure to friend “Matters of Faith” on Facebook and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. You can also use the email or call (718) 328-8096 to order Matters of Faith: The Book.
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