Reflection: Let there be light

In our city, ‘light outages’ happen occasionally. When darkness falls, people frantically search for candles, matches, flashlights, and cell phones. However, when there is light, they don’t think about these things. Another thing is, if you stay in the darkness for a while, your eyes adjust, and you begin to see things around you. The sudden return of light can be dazzling, much like how it is in life.

When God created the world, his first words were, “Let there be light.” Darkness, formlessness, and emptiness symbolise godlessness or death. This was the state of the world, and also our state when we were non-believers belonging to the “world.”

A person can see better in the dark after some time; it is not that the environment brightens but that our eyes adjust to the darkness. Living in the darkness, our eyes are getting darker.

Jesus said (in Matthew 6:22 and Luke 11:34), “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” Through coming to Jesus and believing in Christ, my eyes were opened to who I was and who I could become. “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:3, 4). As Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

“… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Let us go forth with his light within us.

Prayer:

We are at risk of growing accustomed to darkness, and living without realising it. Help us to be recharged by your words, and to live brightly every day.