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*“The Story of Light”*
*2 Corinthians 4:1-7*
Definitions for the word light can be divided into 3 main categories:
1.
The form of a radiant energy that stimulates the organs of sight… (ultraviolet and infrared are forms of light that do not stimulate human vision)
a. Any source of brightness such as a lamp or the sun
2. Mental or spiritual understanding or insight
3. A lively or intense expression on the face – especially in the eyes.
4. The Bible defines God as light and Satan as the prince of darkness.
We use the term ‘light’ to express:
1. Physical
2. Intellect
3. Emotional
4. Spiritual
All these spheres are interdependent.
We are at the end of February.
The days have been short.
The sun has been furthest from the earth.
The lack of strong physical light brings emotional darkness and we often feel depressed.
When one spend time with God and my relationship with God has been nurtured, the spiritual light in my soul brings light to my being often shown on their face and in a lighter step.
This morning I want to talk about the story of light; an ‘in the beginning’ type of story.
As I do I want you to recognize this interplay between the physical, emotional and spiritual
Also, find your place in this story of light:
Once upon a time…
Long, long ago…
Actually our story goes back further than long, long ago…
Back to the beginning of time…
Back to a minute before time…
So our story actually starts: before the beginning of time as we understand time… there was God.
One of the many ways to describe God existing
in reality more real,
more complete
and more full
than anything in our material world…
one description of this ‘before-time’ God is with our word ‘*light*’.
When God-who-is-light chose to create the universe as we know it, He also created physical light.
This light gave sight to our eyes so that
· we could see where we are going
· we could enjoy the beauty of colour
· we could discover more and more of what seems to our infinite minds an almost infinite universe.
Ah, there are many, many other properties of light that that not only bring joy to life but also makes all physical life possible.
No wonder the creator-God began His work of creation with the creation of physical light.
This creator-God-who-is-light also chose to create humans – us! – and to breathe into them – us! – the likeness of God Himself.
This enabled humans – us – to enjoy a wonderful, awe-filled relationship of joy with – our – creator-God.
However, although God gave us the ability to enjoy the
creation with our creator-God,
He also gave us the choice to live in darkness.
This choice is called rebellion.
And that’s what the first humans chose to do – and humans still choose to do today.
Did I mention that our creator-God who began our story at the time of physical creation, also created spirit-beings.
These spirit-beings also had choice
and yes, in the spirit-realm called heaven, where our finite minds understand God to live,
there was also a rebellion.
Some of the angels wanted to take the place of God and there was no room in heaven for such disorder.
These rebellious angels are called demons
and their leader is known as Satan.
In his rebellion against God, Satan wanted to destroy any beauty of God’s created world
and struck right at the pinnacle, humans.
Let’s deceive,
let’s blind their eyes
but make them think their blindness is actually light.
So Satan said to First-woman:
‘When you eat of that God-forbidden fruit you will not die.
Instead your eyes will be opened and you will know good and evil.’
If only first-woman and first-man had stopped to think.
Their creator-God was the one who created their eyes and given them light –
not only to see the created world
but light for their minds to know
– they already knew good and evil:
that’s obedience.
To obey their creator-God who gave them all of creation to enjoy – that is good.
To choose to rebel against their God – that is evil.
They already had that knowledge of good and evil.
Satan did not give them new knowledge,
he blinded them to the knowledge they already had.
He blinded their eyes.
Now, with their focus off God and trying to think for themselves – their thinking is clouded, dark for they separated themselves from their creator-God-who-is-light.
Yes the first humans fell for this deception.
And they hid from God-who-is-light.
This rebellious, fallen state has been passed on to their children and to their children’s children, down through the years, the centuries, the millennium to us today.
Everyone in this room has been affected by that first choice – called sin.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
But there is another description for this creator-God who existed before our physical time.
He is light.
And He is also love.
God loves those He called humans and to whom He gave the capacity to have a joy-filled relationship with Him.
God is love.
And He loves us.
God loves every person in this room today.
This creator-God who is light and love chose to make it possible for us to choose His light
so that He might bring us back into a joy-filled relationship with Him.
He created a Plan – a plan that would bring His people back to the Light – the true light; back to Himself!
God has always been involved in His creation,
inviting blinded ones to turn from the darkness back to His light.
And so the struggle between darkness began and has continued down through the ages.
God calling people out of darkness into His light.
Satan deceiving people into thinking their blindness is actually the total reality.
Some have accepted God’s invitation and moved from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.
But others choose darkness in order to continue to do their deeds of wickedness.
Throughout history God has revealed himself to mankind.
· Speaking to Noah,
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