The Story of Light

The story of life is also a story of light. The biblical narrative begins in darkness, where a light shines, and concludes in a light, where there is no darkness at all. The metaphor of light is used throughout the Bible to convey spiritual realities.

Outwardly, we know how important light is for life. It wakes us up, causes us to see, and enables interaction with the world around us. Light expands consciousness beyond that present in darkness. We learn and grow from interacting with all that we see. More than half the brain is engaged with visual processing. We also now know that light makes the entire food chain possible, starting with photosynthesis. Light is considered essential for life and supports life in complex ways, even though light itself is simple.

We all experience the importance and significance of physical light viscerally and understand it intellectually to some extent. The metaphysical landscape of our inner being and consciousness also features something we symbolically refer to as light. We do so because the attributes of this light and its effect on us are analogous to physical light. So, light is an apt metaphor for spiritual reality. When there is light, we know there is light.

We have subjective experiences that feel similar to light and darkness. Experiences that feel like light in our consciousness make us more awake, alive, and able to function easily. Light expands our conscious awareness. On the other hand, darkening experiences make us less energetic, less motivated, less alive and require more effort to continue functioning. Darkness limits the range of our consciousness. For the most part, we prefer light.

We will look through the Bible to see how the symbol of light is used.

The apostle John says that God Himself is light. There is no darkness in Him. God is also said to dwell in an unapproachable light. Dwelling relates to a state of consciousness. God, as I AM, is light. The Bible writer says that light is intrinsic to God. That is the inspired picture of reality they have pieced together from their inner experience.

The re-creation of the Earth began with light. Upon an empty earth with darkness over the deep, the light shone. Let there be light — those are the first words that convey divine will. God wants light to be there. Since God is light, the implied meaning is: Let there be God. Darkness is the absence of God’s consciousness. The earth has become waste and void in the sense that divine consciousness is absent. It is not enough for God to be light. The divine will is for this light to be present on earth. That is a fundamental first step in the emergence of re-creation on earth.

The account continues to tell us that space is created by separating light from darkness, land from sea, and the expanse above from the earth below. Then, life forms, starting with plants, emerge progressively, with man as the capstone — made in the image of God from the clay of the earth below and the breath of God from above to become a living soul.

The account of creation shows us a pattern. God’s handiwork begins with light, making space for existence, progressive development, and life expression until He arrives at something that is like Him. Inner re-creation works the same way. Light shining in a place of darkness gets the ball rolling. A new space is created in our consciousness. Then, there is an emergent process.

In Exodus, the pillar of fire guides the children of God through the wilderness journey. Moses’s face shone after he spoke with God. In the midst of suffering, Job longs for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over him. He characterizes it as “a time when His lamp shone on my head, and by His light, I walked through darkness.” Psalmists and prophets also make references to the imagery of light.

A key feature of the Holy Place in the Tabernacle is the lampstand. There is no natural light or windows in this place. All the light comes from the oil of pressed olives that fuels the perpetually burning lamps. The lampstand or menorah is a symbol of God’s people. The distinctiveness of the people comes from the presence of this light embodied in the lamp. The people’s job is to keep the light burning perpetually. The light is the testimony.

Fast forward to the New Testament.

Christ is introduced as the true light that enlightens every man. The event of Christ’s coming is seen as a great light has come. It is a light that cannot be eclipsed by darkness. Christ announces light — that is the content of the message. He who follows Me shall have the light of life.

There is a contrast between darkness and light, as in the Genesis creation account. The light comes to a people sitting in darkness. The dawning of this light causes a turn from darkness to light. The believers are called out of darkness into marvelous light. The point and purpose of incarnation is to bring God as light to humanity.

In His transfiguration, Christ shone as light. Apostle Paul experienced the shining of light in his conversion. Paul saw a link between the story of creation and our spiritual experience. God, who said, “Let there be light,” has now shined into our hearts. This light produces a new creation through a spiritual rebirth. This new life has a new consciousness that includes divine presence.

The light not only shines upon a person but makes them light. There is a change in nature — once darkness, now light in the Lord. You are all sons of light, not night or darkness. Believing in the light makes you sons of light. The light within us can shine.

Focused attention brings light into our consciousness. If the eye is single, the body is full of light. We are to walk and abide in the light as He is in the light. The light manifests all things, giving us no cause for stumbling since we see things as they are. The light is embodied in us, so it can also illuminate others. Progress and function are all in the context of light.

There are two symbolic cities in the Bible. New Jerusalem and Babylon. The destruction of Babylon specifically mentions that the light of a lamp shall shine no more. Light is taken away. That is the outcome.

On the other hand, the holy city, New Jerusalem, is described as “having the glory of God; Her light is like a most precious stone.” The nations will walk by its light. There will be no need for a lamp or sun, for the Lord will shine. “Let there be light” in Genesis finds its fulfillment at the conclusion of the biblical narrative.

A story that begins with an earth plunged in darkness concludes with a city of light. The light first shone upon the world, but now it shines out of the holy city. The Lord, as the content of the city, shines out of it. The city is a symbol of an entity that has become like God in its intrinsic nature.

The story of light is a story of human consciousness and the completion of its development. This story continues to unfold on the stage of human life. The evolution of consciousness is a core element of the only show in town. It is told using the fitting metaphor of light.