IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. AND THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID; AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. AND GOD SAID LET THERE BE LIGHT: AND THERE WAS LIGHT. AND GOD SAW THE LIGHT THAT IT WAS GOOD: AND GOD DIVIDED THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. AND GOD CALLED THE LIGHT DAY, AND THE DARKNESS HE CALLED NIGHT. AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE FIRST DAY. Genesis, Chapter 1, Verses 1-5.
Since the beginning of time there has been conflict between Light and Darkness. The conflict between Light and Darkness is the conflict between Good and Evil. IN THE BEGINNING time began when God created the Light and separated it from the Darkness. According to the above Scriptures IN THE BEGINNING darkness was already present. Darkness permeated the Earth which was without form and void until the Spirit of God moved upon the waters (or vapors in the Hebrew) and said “Let there be Light.”
The above Scriptures have a spiritual application as well as a natural one. EVERYTHING we see with the naked eye is a type and shadow of things which are not seen. Light brings clarity and understanding whereas darkness and deception obscures vision. There exists a natural light and a natural darkness. There also exists a Spiritual Light and a Spiritual Darkness. In this book we will be dealing with both Light and Darkness. Spiritual Light and Spiritual Darkness are continually at odds with each other. How we perceive each of these will determine how we deal with each of them in our daily life.
The Conflict of the Ages has always been between Light and Darkness. God created the Light to dispel the Darkness and bring clarity and understanding to the hearts and minds of men. Before God created mankind He called him to walk in Light (understanding), even though Darkness was present.
Light has always been greater and more powerful than Darkness because Light always brings clarity, vision and understanding where chaos and lawlessness abounds. For TRUTH seekers light exposes the evils of Darkness and crowns men’s hearts with understanding. Unfortunately, many men prefer Darkness rather than Light because their hearts and deeds are evil. For those who seek TRUTH, Light will lead them out of Spiritual Darkness into a life filled with spiritual visions, clarity and understanding.
In the story of Creation we find many lessons regarding Spiritual Light and Spiritual Darkness. We find the story of Christ Jesus, the Light of the World, and the Darkness which dwells on and permeates the Earth (spirit and soul). In the Bible the Earth is a type and shadow of the spirit of man. The whole story of Creation is an anomaly which can only be understood by those who are dwelling in the LIGHT of Christ. Christ is the Light of the World who came to dispel the darkness which permeates the hearts and souls of mankind.
DARK MATTER
AND THE LORD SAID EVEN UNTO MOSES, STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND TOWARD HEAVEN, THAT THERE MAY BE DARKNESS OVER THE LAND OF EGYPT, EVEN DARKNESS WHICH MAY BE FELT. AND MOSES STRETCHED FORT HIS HAND TOWARD HEAVEN; AND THERE WAS A THICK DARKNESS IN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT THREE DAYS. Exodus, Chapter 10, Verse 21-22.
Many scientists believe there is a thing called DARK MATTER. According to some scientists, Dark Matter makes up approximately 85 percent of the Universe. They believe that energy is attached to Dark Matter and it can have an effect on people. Scientist are still studying Dark Matter and how it effects our Universe. Could it be that Dark Matter played a role in the Plague of Darkness which came upon Egypt in the Book of Exodus? Again, it looks Science may have proved the Word of God to be true.
THEY SAW NOT ONE ANOTHER, NEITHER ROSE ANY FROM HIS PLACE FOR THREE DAYS: BUT ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAD LIGHT IN THEIR DWELLINGS. Exodus, Chapter 20, Verse 23.
When the land of Egypt was filled with darkness, the Children of God had light in their dwellings. This is a type and shadow of the Light of Christ dwelling in the hearts and minds of God’s people.
The only thing Darkness in any form cannot penetrate is Light. Darkness has no power over Light, but Light has power over Darkness. You can turn on the light in a room, but you cannot turn on darkness. Darkness only exists when there in the absence of Light. One who does not possess the LIGHT of Christ dwells in Darkness.
LIGHT LIFE AND UNDERSTANDING
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY (through) HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE. IN HIM WAS LIFE; AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. AND THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS; AND THE DARKNESS COMPREHENDED (overtook) IT NOT.
IN THE BEGINNING God hovered over the Darkness and spoke the creative words “Let there be Light.” The Earth was void and without form (desolate), and darkness permeated the deep (vapors). The word “void” speaks of there being nothing but an emptiness or vacuum in the darkness. This is a type and shadow of men without the Light of Christ illuminating their souls. Without Christ, the Light of the World, men walk in darkness.
The LIFE of Christ is the LIGHT of men. You cannot separate the Life of Christ from the Light of Christ. It is the Light of Christ which causes the spiritually blind to see and understand the Truth. Christ is not only Light and Life, He is also Truth. Where the Light of Christ brings understanding, the Life of Christ brings Salvation to all who will believe in Him.
The Apostle Paul in praying for the Ephesians wrote: THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF GLORY (light), MAY GIVE UNTO YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM: THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED; THAT YE MAY KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, AND WHAT IS THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, AND WHAT IS THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US-WARD WHO BELIEVE, ACCORDING TO THE WORKING OF HIS ALMIGHTY POWER. Ephesians, Chapter 1, Verses 17-19.
Light is prophetic of understanding. Without light I cannot see anything. Light gives me the ability to see the things and places around me. Light helps me to maneuver around on this planet without waking into things and hurting myself. Light helps me to see dangers which may be in my pathway. Without light, we would be in total darkness and subject to the things and forces which are around us.
In the same sense, without Spiritual Light (Christ), we cannot see and understand things which are spiritual. Without Christ, men walk in Spiritual Darkness. Without Christ, our Light, we cannot understand spiritual truths. Without Christ, we cannot see the dangers and pitfalls of living in Spiritual Darkness. Understanding who Christ is and what He has done for us gives us the ability and opportunity to walk in His Light. His Light shines in the deepest parts of our soul. Our souls were once full of spiritual darkness and at one time void of Truth and spiritual understanding.
WE ALSO DO NOT CEASE TO PRAY FOR YOU, AND DESIRE THAT YOU BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING. Colossians, Chapter 1, Verse 9.
Without Spiritual Light, I cannot know the will of God, and I am blinded to the Wisdom and Understanding of Truth. It is the Truth we know which sets us free from the pitfalls and chaos of Spiritual Darkness. It is Truth which transforms us into the image of Christ by setting us free from Spiritual Darkness. It is the Light of Christ which enables us to find our way, even though we walk through a World permeated by sin and darkness.
Without Spiritual Understanding, we are alienated from God and our hearts are blinded from KNOWING and UNDERSTANDING the Truth. Without Spiritual Light, men are bound in chains of darkness and destined for Hell unless they repent of their sins and accept Christ as Lord and Savior. When they do accept Christ, the LIFE (spirit) of Christ comes to dwell in their hearts.
Darkness and Light cannot coexist. Darkness and Light influence our emotions in opposite ways. Darkness promotes fear in the life of a person. Fear leads to depression and despair. On the other hand, Light inspires hope and understanding in the heart of man. Hope and understanding leads to deliverance and salvation. Understanding dispels ignorance as Light dispels Darkness. Jesus is the LIGHT of the World. The Scripture says: men love Darkness more than they do Light because their deeds are evil. Men who live in Darkness do so at their own peril.
THIS IS THE MESSAGE WHICH WE HAVE HEARD OF HIM, AND DECLARE UNTO YOU, THAT GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. IF WE SAY WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, AND WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT (KNOW) THE TRUTH. 1 John, Chapter 1, Verses 5-6.
In the Story of Creation, the Darkness which permeated the FACE OF THE DEEP was a type and shadow of the soul without Christ who is the Light of the World. When God spoke into the DARKNESS and said, “Let there be Light,” He was speaking of the Light of Christ. The Light of Christ brings Understanding and Salvation to the souls of men living in Darkness.
Darkness cannot dispel darkness. Living in Darkness can only lead to tragedy. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.” Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. God is LIGHT. 1 John, Chapter 1, Verse 5. God is LOVE. 1 John, Chapter 4, Verse 8.
LIGHT LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
BELOVED LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR LOVE IS OF GOD; AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF GOD, AND KNOWS GOD. HE WHO LOVES NOT KNOWS NOT GOD; FOR GOD IS LOVE. 1 John, Chapter 4, Verses 7-8.
He who walks in the Light loves God. The Gospel of John says: “The Life of Jesus is the Light of men.” If we are walking IN THE LIGHT, it is because we know and have experienced that GOD IS LOVE and His love constrains us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. His Love empowers us to love one another so that we may become complete in Him. His Life is the Light which leads us to Eternal Life.
THE PATH OF THE JUST (righteous) IS AS THE SHINING LIGHT; THAT SHINES MORE AND MORE UNTO THE PERFECT DAY. THE WAY OF THE WICKED IS AS DARKNESS: THEY KNOW NOT AT WHAT THEY STUMBLE. Proverbs, Chapter 4, Verses 17-18.
The Path of Righteousness is the Way of Light. In other words, Light (understanding) is one of the keys to RIGHTEOUSNESS. On the Path of Righteousness we are able to LIGHT the WAY for others who are dwelling in Darkness. In walking in the Light of Christ, we become a Light set upon a hill for all to see. In Christ we become a Heavenly Beacon of Light shining out over stormy seas in order to direct ships being tossed and turned from the storms of life to safety. The Light of Christ is an ever present help in the time of storm: an ever present help in the time of need.
On the other hand, the pathway of the wicked is DARKNESS. They will continue to stumble and fall because they do not understand and cannot see that the pathway which they travel is the pathway which leads to destruction and death. There are many pitfalls on the Pathway of Darkness which lead to eternal damnation. Unfortunately, those who walk the Pathway of Darkness do not understand the perilous dangers which lay ahead of them.