Seeing in the light is the everyday experience for most people. Without light we’re stuck, we can’t do anything.
The Bible says a lot about light. Right at the beginning we read, ‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… And God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness’ (Genesis 1:1-4). The Bible is talking here about physical light.
It also talks about metaphorical light. Generally, being in the light is a metaphor for Godliness and goodness, whereas darkness is a metaphor for evil. Those who possess the knowledge of the truth of the Gospel and the things concerning the Kingdom of God in their hearts, and are striving to live by that knowledge, are in the light.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined’ (Isaiah 9:2). This is quoted in Matthew 4: 16, where we learn that it is a prophecy of the arrival of Jesus Christ to bring the knowledge of God’s salvation.
Isaiah appealed to the nation of Israel to ‘walk in the light of the LORD’ (Isaiah 2:5), because they had forsaken God and were walking in darkness. He proclaimed, ‘Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!’ (Isaiah 5:20).
Jesus said to the people who were listening to him, ‘Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going’ (John 12:35). How were they do walk in the light? He explained: ‘I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness’ (v. 46).
Faithful believers are walking in light – they see where they are going, and they know how to get there. Looking forward to the glory of the Kingdom of God, Isaiah said to Israel, ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you’ (Isaiah 60:1).
Grahame A Cooper