What is Light

Adrian Rogers told this story about World War 2 which goes something like this.

Back in World War II, in the North Atlantic, there was an aircraft carrier that was in danger from enemy submarines and their torpedoes. In the late afternoon, early evening the ships commander ordered five of their best airplanes with five of their finest pilots to scout the waters and see if they could locate the enemy submarines and avoid being damaged or destroyed.

It became nighttime with total cloud cover. No light from the heavens. The aircraft carrier commander realized he was in grave danger, and gave this command.

He said, “Every light on this ship is to be extinguished. Not even a flashlight or a cigarette to be lit. There is to be a total black out.”

A while later, those five pilots that had gone out to reconnoiter to find those enemy submarines were returning and they radioed to the aircraft carrier.

They said, “We’re coming home. Give us some light to land by.” The radio operator said, “I’m sorry. There’s a total blackout. We cannot give you light.” Another of those pilots radioed in, and said, “Just give us some light, and we’ll land.” Again, the order came back, “It is total blackout. We cannot give you any light.”

In desperation, one of the pilots radioed in, and said, “We are out of fuel! Just one light to help us find our way home.” The radio dispatcher aboard the aircraft carrier, with a broken heart said, “I can give you no light,” and shut off the switch.

Five brave American pilots, five of America’s best, went down in the blackness to the ice cold waters of the North Atlantic ocean, never to return home.

The commander of Aircraft Carrier was afraid enough for his ship and crew of a thousands of men, from enemy submarines, he willingly gave up the lives of five highly trained pilots and their aircraft, for the lack of one single light.

What is light? Is the brightness we see by from a LED lamp the same as a campfire, a glow stick, the sun?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, light is something that makes vision possible. The electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength that travels in a vacuum with a speed of 299,792,458 meters (about 186,000 miles) per second or more specifically the radiation that is visible to the human eye.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) tells us light comes from fusion when two atoms collide, they release energy and thus light in the process. These photons of light, first created in the sun's center. Then, over tens of thousands of years, the photons travel a "drunken walk," zigzagging their way from atom to atom until they reach the surface. It is then, the radiation is released into space.

I believe there is more to light than just something of a scientific theory. Does your mind and soul search for an answer that light is something greater? Can there be a kind of light greater than the sun? Can we discover a greater definition of what light truly is? What does the Bible say about the subject?

Scripture speaks of something more spiritual, supernatural. There is something more to light than just some physical presence of visible radiation. Something must have created the source of all of this.

I believe there is a greater spiritual essence of light the world refuses to comprehend.

John 1:4–5 NKJV

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

LIGHT AND DARKNESS

Light and darkness is a spiritually ethical opposition present from the very beginning of Genesis.

Light and darkness are both the real and symbolic narrative, which together describes the opposite ends of a good and evil dualism that pervades biblical language and world history.

Although the specific reference of light or darkness in any particular section within the Scriptures must be based on its surrounding context, the essential meaning of the dualism remains true throughout the Bibles authorship.

Within the finite understanding of God’s creative power, we find the general revelation of God’s love for us. God has given physical examples of what life is now and what it will be in the new heavens, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem.

We can discover these examples in this darkened world. Just look around you in this very room.

Genesis 1:1-5

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… 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.

Exodus 13:21–22 CSB

The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

Again the reality of God’s sovereign power over created light is seen in Joshua 10:12-14.

“Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies.”

Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

Every day we have upon life’s journey, we can see the witness of creation in the rising of the sun, and it’s light shining upon both the righteous and the unrighteous.

However, this does not mean that we cannot see the wondrous reality of God’s true light.

For the world has been given that glimpse of what God has already provided and what is yet to come.

There is a Spiritual light that shines in every man, woman, and child. That spark of light we see in someones eye.

You know what I mean.

If we are of a spiritual community, a spiritual family, a Spirit filled Holy Ghost believing assembly of God’s children, we must recognize, and understand what is God’s Spiritual light today.

We must teach our children and our children’s children that in the darkest of times, God’s light is still there. For one day God, who is clothed with light, a manifestation of His true splendor, will replace the light of the heavens with His own light .

It is written by the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 60:19 (NKJV)

“The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory.

This what we know today. The Holy Spirit has inspired each of us to understand what God’s true essence of light truly is.

As Simeon thanks God:

Luke 2:29–32 (NKJV)

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

Jesus speaking to His disciples before returning to Bethany, the town of Lazarus.

John 11:9–10 NKJV

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Speaking to the growing crowds in Jerusalem because of the Passover feast.

John 12:35-36a

Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

and still speaking to the crowds:

John 12:44-46

Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me. And the one who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness.

Today, as a body of believers, we know, that we know, that we know; the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Let us share with others this faith. Believing in the light of life and truth. Something so historically backed over the centuries, is so jokingly funny in the darkened world we live in, we have and will be ridiculed for our faith.

We must prepare ourselves, just as Noah when he built the Ark, must listen, watch, and be ready for the return of Jesus.

The salvation of the Messiah who comes like the wedding party to take away the bride in the middle of the night.

Revelation 22:12–13, 16 (NKJV)

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last… the Bright and Morning Star.”