How far the little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world! Jesus commands us to let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Even the feeblest light at midnight is of use, showing that no sincere and humble Christian lives in vain. In the darkness of a great cavern, one small match illuminated the entire space, revealing everyone and the surrounding walls. This world loves darkness, where many believe they can hide their deeds, but the light of God is brighter and more penetrating than the sun, revealing all secrets. Jesus teaches that He is the true light, the light of the world, and if we follow Him, we will not walk in darkness. Those who practice truth come to the light, that their deeds may be clearly seen as done in God. We are called to walk in the fullness of His light, practicing what pleases Him, so our little light will shine brightly in this increasingly darkening world.

Of all the benefits we as inhabitants of the earth have received from God, few are more remarkable than the possession of light and the ability to use it. God is the only trustworthy source of true everlasting light. By light, we possess extraordinary knowledge, many comforts, and necessities, revealing its incredible purity, delicacy, and variety of colors. Light exercises an enormous influence over human imagination, often leading to its worship as humanity tends to honor creation over the Creator. When God places the light of the spirit in the human mind, it enables a person to think beyond the level of an animal and become a reasoning, intelligent being. As a result of this light, this mind power given by God, we can invent and build amazing things, designing vehicles and places to live with all sorts of conveniences. Light represents truth and goodness, standing as the great antithesis and conqueror of darkness, which symbolizes error and evil. Light holds properties of rulership over the universe, evoking awe, as seen in the creation account when God created the two great lights to rule the day and the night. The creation of light was the initial step in the creation of life, with God's first command, "Let there be light," bringing order out of chaos and desolation. Light is not self-generated; its origin lies in the purpose and nature of God, who is defined as light itself. God is light, and this word carries a comprehensive meaning, symbolizing all that is luminous and radiant in the mental, moral, and spiritual life of humans and angels. Due to His holiness and moral perfection, the Eternal God dwells in unapproachable light. Natural light, from the sun, moon, and stars, brings beauty, radiance, and utility, rejoicing the heart and sustaining life, joy, activity, and blessings. Without it, people stumble and are helpless, longing for its return. Light is necessary for good health, prolonging physical and spiritual life by guiding circadian rhythms, influencing productivity, mood, alertness, and sleep. Sunlight boosts vitamin D storage, vital for bone health, immunity, and disease prevention, and supports eye health through dopamine function in the retina. Natural light also cheers the spirit, alleviating seasonal depression and enhancing mood even on gray days. Artificial light serves as a temporary substitute when natural light fails, though often dim and inadequate. From ancient candles and oil lamps to modern fluorescent and LED lights, artificial light illuminates the night, yet studies show it can cause health issues in sensitive individuals, such as headaches, eye strain, and disrupted sleep. Crime and immorality often increase under artificial light at night, reflecting a false illumination that contrasts with the true light God provides. Only God has designed the perfect light for our physical and spiritual well-being, and we must shine as true lights to counter the false light of darkness. Mental, moral, and spiritual light finds its counterpart in our inner life, portraying spiritual realities with beauty and appropriateness in the Scriptures. Light symbolizes knowledge, wisdom, purity, and truth, while darkness represents ignorance, error, sin, and wretchedness. God illuminates our hearts and minds to truth, removing ignorance and pouring a flood of light into our understanding. Light cheers and applies to spiritual joy from the beneficial influences of God's Spirit of peace. God is light, an attribute of holiness and a personal quality, the outshining of deity, covering Himself with light as with a garment. Heaven is represented as a place of the most pure and brilliant light, needing neither sun, moon, nor stars, for God dwells in that light surrounded by unique and inapproachable glory. Jesus Christ, as the light of the world, embodies divine illumination, bringing God's truth to humanity. He declared Himself the light, stating that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light o

God's ancient command, "Let there be light," uttered on the first day of the creation of the physical world, carries a profound significance that extends to His ongoing spiritual work with humanity. Under the inspiration of God's Spirit, this command is translated into Greek with a future tense verb, rendered as "Light will shine out of darkness" or "Light shall shine out of darkness" in various translations. This same God, who created the heavens and the earth and commanded illumination of the vast deep, now commands light to shine in our minds, revealing the deep things of God. Without this divine light, our knowledge of Him would be limited to His nature and power as seen in the physical creation. Paul's use of the Greek preposition "ek," meaning "out of" or "out from," emphasizes that this light does not merely illuminate the surface but emanates from within the darkness itself. This God-created light is distinct from its Creator, shining forth from the hub of darkness, a discrete and darkness-destroying light burning in a place contrary to Him. It bespeaks the boundless transformative power of God's Spirit as it works to accomplish the Creator's purposes. Christ reminds His disciples that people do not hide a lamp but place it on a stand for maximum illumination, commanding them to let their light shine before men so that their good works may glorify their Father in heaven. Though this light is engendered by Him, sent out by Him, and sustained by Him, it is separate from Him, burning in independent beings who were once as helplessly darkened as the chaos of Genesis. Spiritually energized by Christ dwelling in us, we remain separate entities, transformed by His light, shining as God's light within freestanding organisms. The darkness could not overcome the light sent out from Jesus Christ, who anciently confronted the chaos of darkness, transforming it into an organized and fruitful creation capable of facilitating His plans. The prophesied creation of light will continue until there are billions of points of light, each distinguished from the Father of lights as separate beings, yet each indistinguishable from Him in character and purpose.

God is the only true source of everlasting light, providing both physical and spiritual illumination to humanity. Through light, extraordinary knowledge, comforts, and the beauty of colors are revealed, bringing great pleasure and influencing human imagination. When God places the light of the spirit in a human mind, it elevates thought beyond animal instinct, enabling invention and remarkable achievements. Light represents truth and goodness, standing as the great antithesis and conqueror of darkness, which symbolizes evil and error. On the fourth day of creation, God made the two great lights to rule the day and night, establishing light's rulership over the universe with a sense of awe. The creation of light was the initial step in forming life, with God's first command, "Let there be light," marking the beginning of creation. Light's origin lies in the purpose and nature of God, who is defined as light itself, embodying all that is luminous and radiant in mental, moral, and spiritual life. God dwells in unapproachable light, a symbol of His holiness and moral perfection. Light is necessary for good health and prolongs life, both physically and spiritually, as seen in studies showing enhanced learning and health under full spectrum light akin to natural daylight. Throughout Scripture, light symbolizes knowledge, purity, and truth, while darkness represents ignorance and sin. God removes ignorance by pouring light and truth into minds, cheering and rendering life prosperous through spiritual joy and the influence of His Holy Spirit. Without this Spirit, there is no light, as it comes unrequested from above, transforming the earthly sphere with transcendent splendor. Light pictures God's simultaneous transcendence and imminence, permeating everyday life as a symbol of holiness and purity, an attribute of His divine nature. Jesus Christ is the personification of light, bringing spiritual illumination as the Messiah. He declared Himself the light of the world, manifesting God in the flesh as the Teacher, Enlightener, Guide, and Savior of humanity. Christ gives understanding, truth, and wisdom, and as the Word, He is the radiant splendor of God's glory. His light, though small at first, grew in intensity, illuminating great things of enormous consequence. When Christ took the sins of the world upon Himself, darkness fell at midday, highlighting the deep need for the everlasting light that the Eternal Father radiates. In the ultimate vision of the New Jerusalem, the glory of God provides light, eliminating the need for sun or moon, as the Lamb is its lamp. The divine King's presence bathes the city in overflowing radiance, where the redeemed dwell in eternal glory and everlasting life. At the end of the age, God's light will obliterate all traces of darkness, renewing the earth and heavens with light, truth, beauty, holiness, and joy. There will be no physical or spiritual night, only perfect knowledge and joy in walking continually in the light of the Lord. The whole purpose of light is to reveal and glorify God, who is light, and His servants will reign with Christ forever in everlasting light.

In the Parable of the Light, Jesus Christ portrays true Christians as a city set on a hill, visible from afar to many eyes over a wide area, symbolizing their far-ranging influence on others. Similarly, He likens them to a shining lamp on a lampstand, illuminating the home and suggesting a more intimate impact within families and close circles. By design, a Christian's actions cannot be hidden from either family or the world at large, compelling them to live a righteous, holy, humble, and pure life. A lamp, once lit, is not to be concealed under a basket but placed where its light can benefit all in the house. So too, God's truth given to Christians is meant to be visible, standing in stark contrast to the wicked world, exposing and instructing it. If hidden, the light serves no purpose, but when displayed, it reaches and aids others. The righteous life, pleasant attitude, and good works of a Christian, including pure conversation and faithful obedience, should shine before others. This light must be evident in all communities, in business, at home, and abroad, in prosperity and adversity, showing adherence to God's way of life while resisting worldly influences. The proper motive for letting this light shine is not to gain praise from others but to bring glory to the Father. Christians should live so that their good works, standing in contrast to the ways of the wicked world, lead others to honor God through their conduct, not through show or pomp. The Father is glorified when Christians bear the fruit of the Spirit, perform good works, and offer correct praise and honor to Him. By living in obedience and reflecting the excellence of God's way, they provide a witness to the world, demonstrating the power and purity of the truth. Good actions, inevitably seen, lead others to honor God, and even the feeblest light proves useful in the darkest times.

From the beginning, God gave us light. At some time in the far distant past, He created the universe, the heavens, and the earth. In the midst of a formless, empty planet covered in darkness, God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. This light, in every sense, encompasses the sun, the moon, the stars, the morning, daybreak, daylight, prosperity, and God as our light. By making the sun, the moon, the stars, the rotating of the earth, and its tilt, He also gave us the dark of night. God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light, striving to follow the truth and come out of sin, Christ will be our advocate. The theme of darkness and light runs throughout the scriptures, portraying light as truth and darkness as sin. Satan, the adversary, transforms himself into an angel of light, dressing up sin with deceptive brightness to present it as good. Yet, when the lights are off, the true nature of darkness is revealed as the opposite of God. We are to reflect God's light within us. If we clearly see His laws, obey them quietly, and avoid evil, we walk in the light. In the prophecy of the New Jerusalem, the glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is its light. The nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the earth will shine with His glory. Even a small portion of light, as seen when just 2.5% of the sun still lit the earth during an eclipse, demonstrates the immense power of light to overcome darkness.

Light reveals God and produces fruit, while also exposing what is wrong. It uncovers the truth and lays bare the true character of things. God's light shows the reality of an unbeliever's nature, often in an unflattering way. As Christians walk in the light, they refuse to associate with darkness and, by their very lives, expose the dark aspects of sin for what they truly are. The apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians that they were once darkness, but now they are light in the Lord. This distinction sets apart the true Christian, who is light in the Lord, from those who are not, even if they appear good or moral by worldly standards. Christians are light in the Lord because Christ dwells in them, and they live God's way of life. If they do not live this way, the light is not in them, with eternal consequences. This light manifests first in the mind, bringing biblical truth to the intellect and understanding, rather than vague feelings. Darkness is marked by ignorance, while light is characterized by knowledge, especially a unique knowledge of God that only Christians possess. This spiritual faculty grants insight and reverence for spiritual truth, which non-Christians lack, rendering spiritual matters foolish to them. Christians, being light in the Lord, will help people out of darkness on a global scale during the Millennium. This light is not about intellectual capacity but a spiritual power that awakens an understanding of sin and a desire for holiness. A Christian, as light in the Lord, knows the way of salvation through Jesus Christ and can explain it to others, reflecting this light as a witness. The fruit of light shows itself in goodness, righteousness, and truth. Unlike the unfruitful works of darkness, the life of a true Christian bears good fruit, aligning with what humanity was meant to be at creation. This fruit grows naturally from within, not artificially imposed, distinguishing genuine Christian behavior from the mechanical conduct of false religions. The Christian's life, like a living tree, produces fruit of light organically, reflecting steady growth and development toward spiritual maturity. Light, as an expression of the Christian's true nature, comes from within, driven by the cultivation of the heart and mind. The fruit of light is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, each aspect revealing a facet of God's character. Goodness reflects benevolence and a concern for others' well-being, contrasting with the selfishness of darkness. Righteousness signifies conformity to God's law, being just and fair in dealings with others. Truth embodies transparency and sincerity, exposing deceit and hidden things, unlike the secretive nature of sin. Light is beneficent, doing immense good and bringing glory through spiritual fruit. Christians, as light in the Lord, are branches of the true Vine, meant to produce this fruit to God's glory. Walking as children of light offers the opportunity to rule with light in the Millennium, shining with Jesus Christ and God the Father to illuminate truth and guide others out of darkness.

Lighthouses stand as towering guardians along the shorelines, shining their beacons continuously through the darkness of night. Located on coasts, rocky points, islands, inlets, and harbors near dangerous underwater reefs, they guide captains and their ships safely through obscurity with their bright lights, warning of impending dangers and providing direction. Just as these beacons pierce the night, God's light shines through the darkness of this world, ruled by satan. Jesus Christ came to warn of danger, to save, and to offer forgiveness, embodying light itself and separating light from darkness. To abide in Him is to walk in light, for without light there is no direction, only fear and confusion. Jesus Christ declared Himself the light of the world, promising that those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. His light penetrates the darkness of satan's world, offering guidance, hope, and comfort, teaching that light is life and darkness is death. As He is the light, so too are His followers called to be lights in the world, shining through Him as their source. Though their light may not burn as brightly as His, they are to be beacons, emitting His light by displaying His character and producing the fruits of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Lighthouses are built on solid bedrock or secured with deep screw piles to withstand harsh conditions, ensuring stability over time. Similarly, the foundation of a believer's light must be built on Jesus Christ, the rock, nurtured through study, prayer, fellowship, and application of knowledge. This foundation enables discernment between light and darkness, developing godly wisdom through a life of obedience and wholehearted commitment to living uprightly. As lighthouses serve without self-interest, believers are called to shine forth humbly, serving others in love, fulfilling their purpose as beacons of God's character. Being a lighthouse means providing a good example in actions, words, and attitudes, reflecting God's values to family, brethren, friends, co-workers, and the world. Whether through obvious acts like keeping the Sabbath or subtle gestures like showing respect, holding a door, or offering encouragement, the light shines brightest in service to others. Believers are to support and help one another, glorifying God by letting their light shine before men, always seeking opportunities to serve and display His character through their conduct.

In the majestic account of creation, God first speaks light into existence with the command, "Let there be light," marking it as the initial creative work on the first day. This light, brought forth by His sovereign power, exists before the sun and moon, demonstrating His absolute authority to create and order all things. Whether by pure creation from nothing or by a supernatural event allowing pre-existing light to penetrate a darkened region, this act signifies the dawning of a new day and the structuring of time into a weekly cycle, with each stage separated by evening and morning. On the fourth day, God continues and completes the work of light by placing lights in the heavens to govern time and provide illumination upon the earth. He fashions the greater light, the sun, and the lesser light, the moon, ordaining them to mark signs, seasons, days, and years according to His purposes. These lights serve as a natural timepiece for mankind, defining agricultural, social, and sacred cycles, and dividing light from darkness, day from night, just as on the first day. Thus, the ordering of light on both days underscores God's supreme design and authority over creation.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was without form and void, with darkness on the face of the deep. Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light. This divine command marked the emergence of light from darkness, setting a foundation for creation. God also commanded His people to provide light, as recorded in Exodus 27:20-21, where the children of Israel were to bring pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually in the tabernacle of meeting. This light, fueled by pure olive oil, was to be tended by Aaron and his sons from evening until morning before the Lord, a statute forever to their generations. The requirement for pure oil ensured a clean, steady, and clear light, necessary for the enclosed area of the Tabernacle where priests performed their tasks. The duration of this light was to be continual, with the lamps burning without ceasing, tended through the night to prevent them from going out. This responsibility fell to the priests on behalf of the children of Israel, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the light as a symbol of the Lord's presence within the Tabernacle. The goal of bringing the pure oil was to achieve the continual burning of the light, reflecting a deeper purpose. In John 1:4-5, it is written that in Him was life, and the life was the light of men, with the light shining in the darkness, which did not comprehend it. This true Light, identified as Jesus, gives light to every man coming into the world. The light expressed by His followers should reflect the presence of the Lord within them, just as the Tabernacle light resembled God's presence. From the beginning, God commanded light into existence, and even in environments not conducive to meeting His commands, He provides abundantly what is needed to fulfill them. The call remains to tend the flame of this light through actions and character, mirroring the true Light of Christ.