The Light

I have always believed in the symbolism of ‘The Light’ with my faith. In my research to validate my viewpoint, I’ve found in the Bible multiple references to ‘The Light’ or ‘The Light of the World.’ The first chapter and first verses of Geneses are the initial sources.

“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was the morning of the first day.”

Biblical scholars have varied interpretations of these five verses. I understand that the usage here of ‘The Light’ and its opposition to ‘The Darkness’ is symbolic of good and evil. Since God created the light, perhaps it means the ‘Spirit of God.’

Psalms 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear.

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

From these references and others throughout the Old Testament, the light is the power of the Lord. It brings strength and comfort to all that seek Him. But when we look at the New Testament, Jesus is quoted that He is ‘The Light of the World.’ The New Testament also mentions that Jesus taught us to accept ‘The Light’ and allow it to shine through us.

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.”

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

For me, the references throughout the Bible reinforce my understanding. God is love, and He sent Jesus in human form so we might better understand His love for us.

I’ve wondered if the physical or spiritual occurrences of light aren’t interactions with God. We have heard or read about individuals who have died and returned to life. They explain their encounter as floating through a tunnel to a distant light intensifying as they travel. At some point, their episode ends, and they return to life.

Some individuals have had shared death experiences. Some tell us they felt their soul or spirit, along with the dying individual’s, float above themselves. There are reports of individuals seeing a third person hovering above the dying as if waiting to escort them into a visible light. Some have reported seeing a bright light exit the body of the dying. The commonality of all these death experiences has been ‘The Light.’

As we define it today, space is light from stars and galaxies, along with areas of darkness. With the exploration of space, the use of the Hubble Space Telescope, and now the New Horizons spacecraft, we are discovering that space isn’t as dark as we thought. Yet scientists state that about half of the light in these seemingly barren areas of space originates from unknown sources or as-yet-unidentified phenomena associated with dark matter. As we discover previously unknown galaxies, stars, planets, and moons, it validates that outer space is infinite.

In my past faith teaching, someone told me that God was infinite. I also understand that humans have only scratched the surface of knowledge of the structure of our earth and all the living things that inhabit it. Add outer space to the formula, making the infinity theory more confusing. If we are to understand or believe that space and God are infinite, then when we see and experience these mysteries, are we seeing God?

The more I think of all the beautiful and amazing living things around me, the more I’m convinced I see God in everything. I believe all that I have experienced in my life, I have encountered God or God’s creation in it all. I’m convinced that when I see ‘The Light,’ I see the living and loving God.

Leave me your thoughts on how you understand and explain ‘The Light.’