“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.”
Genesis 1:1-3
God is powerful—there’s no denying that. He literally created every living thing in heaven and on earth. But God is not just powerful; He is full of light. Just as the sun feeds the earth through the process of photosynthesis, so too does God feed us through spiritual light. The sun is a great light, but it doesn't compare to the light that comes from the Lord.
“The people have seen a great light.”
That’s Matthew referring to Jesus. If Jesus is God, then is He also light? Of course. Jesus is the Word of God incarnate.
So, when do we see the light of Christ? One way is through the Holy Spirit, who opens our minds to see the face of Jesus. Sometimes I look above and imagine that the darkest day—the day of the Cross—completely transformed that wooden cross into a bright white one. I believe in that redemptive light.
Another example is the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, with Elijah and Moses. Peter, James, and John went with Jesus to the top of a mountain to pray. Once there, Jesus was transformed into a light so bright and pure that the disciples dropped to the ground as if dead. They saw Moses and Elijah speaking with Him. In that moment, a thunderous voice from heaven declared Jesus to be God's Son. What a moment of pure light—yet Jesus told His friends not to fear.
God also uses His creation to shine. Nature points directly to the light of God. If you’ve ever lit a match and shined a light on it, you’ll notice the match flame has no shadow. This natural phenomenon points to the truth that God is light perpetual—forever. Scripture literally says, “There is no darkness in Him at all.”
If you ever need a reminder of God's power and loving nature, look no further than the sun. It’s a beautiful metaphor for the light that shines from heaven. Scientifically, it speaks to the awe-inspiring speed of light—roughly 200,000 miles per second. God created that light, and He certainly reveals His power through it.
Heaven itself will be lit by the light of Christ. When heaven and earth pass away and we are in the Kingdom, God will literally illuminate that space with His own power and glory. Christ was made in glory for all of heaven to see.
So, what's the takeaway from all of this?
First, we should look for God's glory in all of creation. When the light of the sun shines—like in sunny Florida—we should be filled with hope, knowing that God’s light is even brighter than we can imagine. The sun is also naturally good for us. Hospitals used to have sunroofs because the sunlight helped patients heal. Today, we call this heliotherapy. If the natural sun can heal, how much more can the supernatural light of the universe—God the Father, in the fullness of the Trinity—shine forevermore?
We feed off both the sun and the Son. The sun may be one of the most powerful objects in the universe, so shouldn’t we trust that God’s design is intentional? God created light for our good. He also made us to reflect and shine His light. When Satan sought the glory of God for himself, he fell like lightning. But God, in His mercy, offers us forgiveness when we fall. Through Christ, we can return to God as His light-bearers.
The point is this: the light of Christ should shine through us. We are God’s reflectors, meant to mirror the purity and holiness of the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end, Jesus. God shares His light with us so we can give Him glory. And He calls us to shine that light in the world for all to see. We are called to be “salt and light,” pointing others to the truth of Christ.
There is no darkness in light. Darkness cannot comprehend the light. If we take away one thing from the glorious light that God is and shares with us, it's this: His light is a form of love. If God is love, He certainly doesn’t hold back His light. He wants us to live in a way that carries His light—so we can shine and share it more than we ever thought possible.
Use nature to start that journey. Let this year be a reflection of a light year in all its brilliance—naturally and supernaturally.
Let light shine in your eyes.
Let light shine and expose the darkness.
Let light become your path and your destination.
Let light be your life.
Let light perpetual shine forevermore.
Ask yourself, where can I use more of that light in my life?
Bryan Quackenbush - Verses Co-Founder