Love light, embrace it, and you will be forever changed. This is deeper than you think. It’s physical, yes. But it’s also spiritual — and not in a woo-woo way.
Do you crave light? If you live somewhere like Florida there’s less a lack, but here in the Pacific Northwest dark dreary months make me yearn for light — with every fiber of my being. Yet light was, long before stars and sun existed. It was God’s light.
I LOVE LIGHT — MISS ANGIE WAS RIGHT!
I Love Light, I Love Light Ways, she belts out. If you don’t know Miss Angie, she’s awesome. Her vocal talents were recorded in the early 2000’s in a garage in southern Idaho. And best of all, her heart for the Lord shines through it all. Alternative and full of passion, with a sweet strong voice, she won my admiration. Check out this YouTube link for a taste.
So Light Ways, huh? Light Ways strengthen bones and souls alike. Let’s start with the bones.
WHY YOUR BODY CRAVES LIGHT
Physical Light
Without sunlight there’d be no life on earth. All plants require a certain amount of sunlight in order to make food to survive — a process called photosynthesis. And, without plants we’d have nothing to eat!
We also need sunlight for its critical role in maintaining bone structure. The sun’s rays stimulate your body’s production of vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption — thus promoting strong bone development (and preventing conditions like osteoporosis). Those with lower vitamin D levels suffer from weaker immunity (not to mention other stuff that AI will happily share with you).
But light extends beyond what science can measure.
AND THERE WAS LIGHT — IN THE BEGINNING
Two primary lights govern our lives on Earth — the sun and the moon. Yet long before these lights, even before the stars, there was light! How can this be?
Things are definitely mysterious when you consider the order in which God created [Genesis, Chapter 1, NIV]:
- Day One — Light. God saw that this light was good, and He separated light from the darkness.
- Day Two — the Firmament (Vault). God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. God called this vault sky.
- Day Three — Earth. God said: “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” The land produced plants, trees and herbs.
- Day Four — Sun, Moon, Stars. God made two great lights — the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
- Day Five — God created fish and birds.
- Day Six — God created animals that dwell on land. Then God says: “Let Us make mankind in our image, in Our likeness …”
LIGHT WITHOUT SUN, MOON, STARS
What was this light, set apart from the sunrays, moonbeams and starshine? God’s Word shares the following insight:
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
— 1 John 1:5
Was it God’s holy Light which brought order to chaos and lit the stage for Creation?
According to Scripture, this seems the likely answer. Those plants from Day 3 probably basked in the Light of God’s Glory while waiting for Day 4’s sunshine. Check out this link to Answers In Genesis for a more in depth study. Suffice it to say, any time God reveals His true nature, its brighter than human eyes can handle.
The appearance of God’s Presence as Light is mentioned often throughout biblical history. It’s also something believers look forward to. Here, in the book of Revelation (chapter 21:23-27), John details a vision of the end of the ages, when the New Heaven and New Earth are created:
The city (New Jerusalem) does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.”
What a beautiful scene. I can’t wait to experience this!
SPIRITUAL TRUTHS SHINE IN PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES
The moon has no light of its own — it only reflects the sun’s radiance. It’s basic elementary school science, right? Yet, this simple principle illustrates visually how the Christ-follower walks spiritually.
Spiritual Light
Jesus 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
If you choose to yield your life to Jesus, and make Him your Master, Jesus gives you a permanent, personal illuminating Source. Welcome the Holy Spirit. He’s one Person of the Trinity — sharing divinity with God the Father and God the Son. They are three-in-One — existing eternally.
The Bible describes how believers contain (like a vessel) and reflect (like the moon) the light and glory of God. Brilliantly, the solar system declares this truth in the fire and reflection of it’s heavenly bodies:
- The sun, (like Jesus) is our galaxy’s light source,
- The moon (like someone saved) lacks it’s own glow, and rather reflects the sun’s splendor (just as Christ’s character reflects in the devoted believer’s actions and attitudes).
The Holy Spirit provides the believer with strength to triumph over sin, and power to live a holy life. It is a struggle, as any Christian will tell you. We fail from time to time, which the world is quick to point out. Nevertheless, the daily goal is walking in the light, and the Holy Spirit equips us to do exactly this.
I LOVE LIGHT — RUNNING FROM THE SHADOWS
A friend posted a variation of this quote years ago:
“Don’t bathe me in such blinding light that I have no shadows to dance in; for in the play of light and dark, true beauty is found.”
If you’re speaking in purely visual terms, then yes. But the point is meant to drive deeper. You see, there’s a worldview that says good cannot exist without evil. And, though much is true of the Yin / Yang philosophy, this is where the truth of “balance needs counterbalance” ends.
My friend likes to dabble in darkness, rather than commit her life — once and for all — to Jesus. She prefers a spirituality that makes her feel powerful and focuses on elevating self. But, Witchcraft and New Age mantras cloak the same age-old trickery which led our first parents into disobedience and death — the invitation to “be your own god”.
These shadows take different forms, but their substance is the same. They deceive many, just as their author is the master of lies. In keeping with his persona, Satan wants you too to walk his way — a little compromise here — a dash of darkness there — to season the light. This is a dangerous game, to which many a wayward believer (and lost soul) can attest.
In contrast, what is God’s nature?
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” — James 1:17
God is good. In Him there is no darkness, no evil. He cannot lie or deceive — He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
BIBLE VERSES THAT SHED LIGHT
If you love light, and your looking for more, you can find it by opening a Bible. In fact, Psalm 119:105 says:
Your (God’s) word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Jesus says in John 3:16-21 (NKJV and a bit of NIV):
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of God’s only begotten Son.
And this is the condemnation — that the light has come into the world, but people loved darkness rather than light, because they deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in the sight of God.”
FILL YOUR MOMENTS WITH LIGHT
How can you bring more light into your life?
Read God’s Word, yes.
Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Indeed.
Walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). Amen!
And, follow the greatest commandment, which is this: Love the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength. AND, the second is like it — to love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31)
Now let’s talk about flooding your physical world with light! I mean, it’s not for nothing that God uses actual sunbeams as a metaphor for goodness!
LIGHT TO BRIGHTEN YOUR MOOD
Here are a few things that illuminate my life. I hope you find one or two that lift your moments and help you see things as they really are — in the light:
- Find a sunbeam and sit in it. I love this! If it’s dark out, plan a time tomorrow when you can sit in the light. Close your eyes, and soak it in.
- If you have the opportunity, choose big windows — more windows! Maybe, if you own your home, consider adding more windows? If you rent and there isn’t enough light in your place, keep your eyes open for other homes. Sometimes renting a smaller place (like a room in someone’s light-filled home) is better than a private gloomy rambler.
- If it’s a sunny season, be sure to make the most of it by getting outside — even if it’s just to eat your lunch. Fresh air does wonders.
- Is forest bathing on your itinerary? Time among the trees, soaking up sun as it filters through leaves, is never wasted.
- When stuck in the socked-in PNW, can you plan a sunny vacation in February?
- Hang a few crystal light-catchers in your windows. Rainbows playing across your carpet ease the mind and comfort the heart.
- Listen to some Miss Angie!
- and … ?
I LOVE LIGHT — DO YOU?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject of light — both the physical and spiritual. How do you invite light into your life? Please share below. — Blessings, Ali 🙂