The Power of Light

Most children have taken a magnifying glass and used the power of concentrated sunlight to burn leaves or paper or have fried an egg on a sidewalk heated by the summer sun. Light is very powerful.

Light energy in various forms is utilized for medical diagnostics and treatments of diseases by electromagnetic radiation, x-rays, and lasers. Light energy is also used in manufacturing, telecommunications, the military, security, and a host of other applications. Our television remote control uses infrared light to change channels and adjust the volume. Solar panels capture sunlight to generate electricity. Our skin captures sunlight to convert a form of cholesterol in our bodies into vitamin D3. Light energy is converted by plants into food (photosynthesis). Sunlight heats the earth, keeping the temperature within the range required to maintain life. There would be no food or life without light.

Light enables us to have vision and is in fact used as a metaphor for vision, understanding, truth, and righteousness. Light is a symbol of the Creator and Savior of mankind, Jesus Christ (John 1:1–13). Without light there is darkness, which is a metaphor for ignorance, unrighteousness, wicked works, and the lack of vision. The Bible uses light as a symbol to teach mankind vital truths.

Genesis 1:3–18 tells us that God created light and said it was good, and then created greater and lesser lights to light the earth. The Lord appeared as a pillar of fire giving light to Israel as He led them out of Egypt (Exodus 13:21, Nehemiah 9:12, 19). God gave instructions concerning lamps to light the tabernacle and the temple (Exodus 25, 27, 20).

David declared “The Lord is my Light” (Psalm 27:1). Isaiah prophesied of a great Light who would come (Isaiah 9:2), and John the Baptist bore witness of the true Light, Jesus Christ, who gives light to everyone (John 1:6–9). The beginning of Jesus’ ministry fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that “The people who sat in darkness saw a great light…. Light has dawned” (Matthew 4:14–16).

We may use the expression “then it dawned on me” or similar expressions such as “I see the light” or “the light came on” and “that was enlightening” referring to coming to understand. That is what happens when God calls us—the “light is turned on” and we suddenly see (understand). Peter explained that God is preparing “His own special people that you may proclaim the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

God dramatically called Saul (Acts 9), better known as Paul (Acts 13:9), who quite literally “saw the light.” When Paul was brought before King Agrippa, he recounted his calling to preach the gospel to the Gentiles “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).

Unfortunately, most of mankind love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil, and they do not come to the light lest their deeds be exposed (John 3:19–20). Satan has blinded the world “lest the light of the gospel… should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Jesus plainly said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). He also told His followers, “You are the light of the world” and “Let your light so shine before men” (Matthew 5:14, 16).

We were all “once (in) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). We should “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” and “Christ will give you light” (vv. 11–14). Light is powerful.

You may be interested in these enlightening study guides to help you in your study of God’s word: Do You Believe the True Gospel?, What Is a True Christian?, and the Tomorrow’s World Bible Study Course.