Light of The World(NIV)
Genesis 1:1-4
GE 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
GE 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
Today we are going to talk about light. The Bible tells us that God created light, but where did this light come from?
Light is a form of traveling energy. UV light to help plants grow and heat for human beings and the Earth.
The speed of light is 3 million meters per second. If you close your eyes and open them, the light you see at that instant took about 6 minutes to get here from the sun.
In Genesis 1, verse 2 tells us that “the Spirit of God” was present at the creation of the world. The Holy Spirit was there at the beginning.
Something else was there at the beginning also.
John 1:1-5
JN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
JN 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
Jesus was there at creation also. Jesus was the source of light at the beginning.
Believe me?
John 8:12
JN 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John1:5- “The darkness cant understand the light”
Think about how you were before you knew Jesus. Did you want anything to do with reading the Bible?, going to Church?, or listening to Christian music? Probably not.
Job 24:13,16
JOB 24:13 "There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths.JOB 24:16 In the dark, men break into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they want nothing to do with the light.
John 3:20
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
ILLUS-From darkness into light/doorway
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
John 3:21
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
After getting saved, people can see a change. Some choose to ignore it and only remember the “old you” they knew.
Ephesians 5:8
EPH 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
Are you living as you should be living or are you holding onto part of your old life?
Scientists look at and study the light from a star or object to determine what it is made of.
“Moonlight Night” The moon itself has no light. Moonlight is actually a reflection of sunlight.
Does the light coming from you reflect the source of light in you?
Proverbs 13:9
PR 13:9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
Matthew 5:16
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Luke 11:35,36
35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”
Can people see the light of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God shinning from you?
In the medical world S.A.D or seasonal associated depression comes from getting a lack of sunlight during the winter months.
2 Samuel 22:29
2SA 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Think about how your life was before you knew Jesus. Think of how it is now if you don’t know him.
Psalm 27:1
PS 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 18:28
PS 18:28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
In the Old Testament, God gave Israel a pillar of fire to guide them after they left Egypt.
Nehemiah 9:12
12 By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.
God still gives us a light to lead us today just as he lead the Hebrews.
Psalm 119:105
PS 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Job 29:3
JOB 29:3 when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness!
John 11:10
10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
A person who does not get a regular does of Gods word is like a man walking along a path in the forest at night. Sooner or later they will either stumble, fall, or get hurt on that path.
Why would God have mercy on us and show us grace? “I don’t deserve it”
Job asked some hard questions about why God would have mercy on us.
Job 3:20,21,23
JOB 3:20 "Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
JOB 3:21 to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,JOB 3:23 Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
Why?
The Answer-
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Ephesians 1:4-7
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
How?
Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
Jesus will return someday to bring judgment to the nations
Isaiah tells us
“my justice will become a light to the nations”
“Nations will come to your light”
“Then your light will rise in the darkness”
Amos 5:20
AM 5:20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light--pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?
When he comes back, it will not be pleasant or pretty for those left behind.
Matthew 24:27-30
27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
MT 24:29 "Immediately after the distress of those days
" `the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
MT 24:30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
Revelation 1:7,8
REV 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen. REV 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Jesus will return to judge the nations. Will you face him as his friend or as his foe?
