Light is Always Greater than Darkness

It is worth considering that the first specific act of God–and word from God–recorded in Scripture was to send light into darkness.

The Bible records it this way in Genesis 1:1-3: 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.

The earth was empty, formless, and dark. Then God sent His Word: “Let there be light.” God has been sending His light into the darkness ever since that first day of creation.

Many years later, God looked at the darkness of the world and sent His Word again:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 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…the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
-John 1:1-4, 9, 14

Jesus came into the world as the Word made flesh. He came as the Light, to redeem us from sin and deliver us from the kingdom of darkness.

Light Always Triumphs

When darkness and light clash, light always triumphs. In a dark room, turn on the light and the darkness flees. Darkness can only exist in the absence of light; and the brighter the light, the lesser the influence of darkness.

Jesus came as the light of the world, and then He commissioned us to be the same (see Matthew 5:14-16). Too often, we see the darkness in the world and become overwhelmed or angry. We point out how dark the world is, all the while Jesus is saying, “You are the light of the world.” Instead of pointing out how dark the darkness is, maybe we ought to turn on the light!

We are assured that the One who is in us is greater than the one in the world (see 1 John 4:4). We don’t have to be afraid of the darkness, the devil, or the world system. Though we should not be flippant, arrogant, or presumptuous when we engage the darkness and shine our light, we have confidence that we are fighting from a position of victory.

Yes, the world is a dark place. But God is in the business of sending His light into the darkness. Let’s rise up and be the light of the world that we are called to be!

“Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.”
-Isaiah 60:1-3

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”
-Romans 13:12