light | Missing Pieces

Light is essential for our survival, both physically and spiritually. At this time of year, we celebrate light in the darkness. The menorah symbolizes the light of Yeshua (Ps 119:105, John 8:12) Arlene Sheldon provides an interesting study on Yeshua’s miracles that correspond with His “I AM” statements ( http://www.wellofbethlehem.witnesstoday.org/menorah.html ) as the living menorah. The light of the Father poured forth from Yeshua. Yet, Yeshua tells us that we are the light of the world (Matt 5:14). What is light? How are we to be light in the darkness?

YHVH created light on the first day, but He created the sun, moon and stars on the fourth day. What was the light that YHVH created? Some ridicule the Bible and say that it contradicts itself. How could YHVH create light but not create the sun until day four? In his article entitled Sunlight Before the Sun, John D. Morris, PhD. from the Institute for Creation Resource points out that there are many types of light such as short-wave light including ultraviolet light and X-rays and long-wave light including infrared light and radio waves. Perhaps YHVH created the materials for light on day one and then chose different combinations of materials for various types of light. YHVH provides various combinations of spiritual light within us as we draw closer to Him, the Source of light.

We can be misled by what we do not see. For example, when we turn on an incandescent light bulb, we may think that the light we see is the only light produced by the bulb. However the incandescent bulb emits only around 10% of its energy as visible light and the remainder is infrared light (“Light,” Wikipedia). We are to be light in the darkness. Are we incandescent bulbs? No, we are light in the sense that there is ignorance or defiance of YHVH’s truth and we can reflect the light of YHVH’s truth to those living in the chaos of darkness. We may think that the light we provide to the world is small and insignificant, but perhaps we are unaware of the various kinds of light that YHVH is able to produce through us.

Light can also mean understanding or comprehension of Scripture. Psalm 119:130 states, The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple (ESV). When we read or study Scripture, we can interpret or comprehend on four levels. Peshat is the surface or literal meaning, Remez the allegorical or symbolic meaning, Daresh the comparative meaning given through similar occurrences and Sod is the secret meaning given through inspiration or revelation. Light can penetrate through layers of darkness. As we comprehend Scripture and it becomes part of us, we emanate its light to those around us. Light and truth are closely related to each other. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God (John 3:21 NIV).

YHVH Himself is light. 1 John 1:5 states …God is light, and in Him there is no darkness. YHVH has many mysteries hidden in the dark and as they are revealed, YHVH will be more fully revealed. How do we reveal YHVH to others? Isaiah 58:10 says If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness and your darkness shall be as the noonday.

By steeping ourselves in YHVH’s light through His word and through personal relationship with Him, the oil of the Holy Spirit will keep our lamps burning brightly in the ever increasing darkness of this world. Our light will shine through our words and actions to others. Let your light shine in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt 5:16). We will not only survive in the darkness, we will thrive.

Light

Life is full of challenges and often we are able to rise to the occasion and overcome our trials. However, there are times when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances. During these times, we realize that we are weak and vulnerable. What causes these dark times to happen? What can we do? Scripture provides some insights for us.

Sometimes our suffering is a direct result of our own poor choices, such as when David succumbed to temptation and slept with another man’s wife. He continued to yield to temptation by attempting to cover up his sin with various schemes. At last, David confessed and repented of his sins, but there was the consequence of losing a child. It was only after David confessed his sin and repented that he was set free from his guilt and was able to finally move forward (2 Sam 11-12) .

At other times we need to adjust our focus. A good example is found in the book of Job. Job was living in fear and focusing on the negative. His fear became his focus and performance became his “god”. “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me” (Job 3:25 NIV). Only when he experienced the loss of family, health, goods, and reputation did his focus change. He met YHVH personally and YHVH became his focus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you (Phil 4:8-9 NLT).

Another source of adversity is when we build false strongholds. We rely on something or someone else besides YHVH to protect us. When we are threatened or injured, we tend to develop strategies and attitudes to keep from further injury. The strategies become our “god” and the attitudes, instead of insulating us from further hurt, only trap us and make a dark place for the enemy to reside. We know from Yeshua that “[t]he thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10 NIV). Through deliverance and inner healing, we can remove the darkness and step into the light.

Yeshua promised us that we would endure persecution for following Him (Matt 10:16-23). The apostles suffered much persecution and many of our brothers and sisters today are suffering severely. We must be ready to endure whatever is required of us (1 Pet 3:13-17). Yeshua endured tremendous persecution during his time on earth, yet He kept His focus on His Father and Abba’s promises to Him. As a result of His faithfulness, He is exceedingly glorified and we are tremendously blessed (1 Pet 3:18-22).

Whatever the cause of our darkness, the solution is always to turn to YHVH and put our trust in Him. YHVH will take what is meant for evil and produce glorious good for us (Gen 50:20; Rom 8:28).