Preface

Darkness exists only because light is absent. When Adam turned away from God through disobedience, he lost the light of God and darkness entered his soul. Therefore, except from man's disobedience to God's Word, darkness has no power to overcome light. Light is the preeminent power. Not only is this true in the physical realm, but it is also true in the spiritual realm. Darkness (death) overshadows the heart of mankind because God's light is absent due to the fall. But, God has provided a way to eradicate darkness by receiving His light once again.

Is His light a biblical metaphor or a real light? It is both! The real light is revealed in the book of Revelation. When God returns to the earth after the millennium with the New Jerusalem city, the earth will be lit by the glory (light) of God and Jesus is the lamp for the light - Revelation 21:23-24 (NIV) - The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (24) The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

God's light used metaphorically -

God is light - 1 John 1:5 - This then 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.

Jesus is the light prophesied by Isaiah - Matthew 4:13-17 (NIV) - Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali - (14) to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah - (15) "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - (16) the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (17) From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Jesus confirms He is God's light of life - John 8:12 (NIV) - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Christians are called to be a light to the world - Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) - "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The gospel (Bible) is God's light of truth - 2 Timothy 1:9-10 (NIV) - This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, (10) but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Christians have been given the glory (brightness) of God through Christ Jesus - John 17:21-22 (NIV) - That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (22) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

"Glory" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon) #1391 splendor, brightness

1. Properly: Acts 22:11

2. Magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace: Matt 4:8

3. Majesty

a. That which belongs to God

1) The kingly majesty which belongs to him as the supreme ruler Matt 6:13

2) Majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity: Rom 1:23

b. Majesty which belongs to Christ

1) The kingly majesty of the Messiah, to which belongs his kingly state, Mark 10:37

2) The absolutely perfect inward or personal excellence of Christ: 2 Cor 3:18; 4:4

3) The majesty (glory) of angels, as apparent in their exterior brightness, Luke 9:26 4.

4. A most glorious condition, most exalted state

a. Of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth: Luke 24:26; John 17:5

b. The glorious condition of blessedness into which it is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven: Rom 8:18, 21.

The glory of God is splendor and brightness given to each Christian.

For us today, faith in the Bible opens our eyes to God's light. By faith we become the children of light. God has provided a way for us to become His adopted children and His glorious light will reside in us and radiate to the people around us by our words and deeds - Matthew 5:15-16 (KJV) - Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, we should not expect to visibly see the light of God that resides in our bodies, but the light can be seen by others through our good works.

Note: Do not see the light of God as a methaphor only! If the glory of God lights the new heaven and earth and replaces the light of the sun and moon, then His light is a real light - not a metaphor or symbol of light. Light rays cannot be seen by the eye, but objects are visible because they are illuminated by light ray reflections. Light that passes through the body cannot be seen with the eye, but the internal parts of the body are visible as instruments take pictures of those parts when they are illuminated by the penetrating light rays, such as, x-rays etc.

The photo below reveals even the low spectrum of light rays from a flashlight can penetrate our bodies -

The body is not an opaque organism. Rather it is transparent allowing light rays (from the lowest wave of the light spectrum to the highest) to penetrate. Likewise, God's glory (light) penetrates the body and resides there. God is omnipresent and His light will never cease to reside in obedient Christians.

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A study of the different uses of "light" in the New Testament

A. Immediately after satan failed to tempt Jesus, Jesus begin to preach. His first sermon begins with a dissertations on on the light of God -

Matthew 4:11-17 (NIV) - Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (12) When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. (13) Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali - (14) to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

(15) "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles-
(16) the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."

(17) From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

"LIght" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon) #5457 foos, footos

1. foos is often used in poetic discourse, in metaphor, and in parable

a. The extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality of light has led to the use of foos as an appellation (name) of God , 1 John 1:5
b. By a figure frequently in the N.T. truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity congruous with it John 1:4
c. By a figure borrowed from daylight foos is used of that which is exposed to the view of all: Matt 10:27
d. Reason, mind; the power of understanding especially moral and spiritual truth: Matt 6:23

B. The eye is the lamp of the body -

Matthew 6:22 (NIV) - "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

"The eye is the lamp of the body"- (Strong's Concordance / Greek) #3788 ophthalmos (of-thal-mos'); from #3700; the eye (literally or figuratively).

"Eye" - #3700 optanomai (op-tan'-om-ahee); a (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) optomai (op'-tom-ahee); which is used for it in certain tenses;

As alternate of #3708 horao (hor-ah'-o); to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable).

As alternate of #991 blepo (blep'-o) which denotes simply voluntary observation.

As alternate of #1492, eido (i'-do); to see (literally or figuratively); which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision.

As alternate of #2300 theaomai (theh-ah'-om-ahee) and #2334 theoreo (theh-o-reh'-o), signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; to be a spectator of, i.e. discern, (literally, figuratively [experience] or intensively [acknowledge]); to look closely at, perceive (literally or figuratively).

As alternate of #4648 a watching from a distance.

As can be seen above are the varied uses of the word "eye" in the bible. Scriptural exegesis of these verses of scripture is speaking of the eye as it perceives the truth (light) of the gospel.

Faith in God's Word opens body and soul to receive the light of God, which resides in the soul of man. His soul is saved for as long as God's light resides there.

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"The eye is the lamp of the body" - (Strong's Concordance / Greek) #3088 luchnos (lookh'-nos); a portable lamp or other illuminator (literally or figuratively).

The eyes are a lamp that sheds light coming from within the body. Light that is formed by the truth of God. Truth that is the foundation of one's perspective of life. Truth that is made known to others by speech, deeds, love and actions (the way we respond to the issues of life).

In the Old Testament, the word "eye" is a Hebrew word #5869 `ayin (ah'-yin); an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape).

When one looks at the landscape of life, what he perceives at the center of life will be his fountain. If he sees himself at the center of his life, then he will fail to see God as the fountain of life, from which all eternal things exist and are nourished. When man investigates his life and his purpose for life, he will either see himself at the center of his life (with all things revolving around him) or he will see God at the center of his life (with all things, including himself, revolving around God).

One's eye is his perception of life and truth and is his light, which is seen by others by the life he lives.

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Matthew 6:23 (NIV)- But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

"Body" (Strong's Concordance - Greek) #4983 soma (so'-mah); from #4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

#4982 sozo (sode'-zo); from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saoz, "safe"); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively).

A body that is full of darkness, due to ignorance or a lack of God's knowledge of truth, needs to be saved and delivered from darkness.

"Darkness" (Strong's Concordance - Greek) #4652 skoteinos (skot-i-nos'); from #4655; opaque, i.e. (figuratively) benighted:

#4655 skotos (skot'-os); from the base of #4639; shadiness, i.e. obscurity (literally or figuratively):

#4639 skia (skee'-ah); apparently a primary word; "shade" or a shadow (literally or figuratively [darkness of error or an adumbration]).

The Greek word skoteinos denotes one who became dark (benighted) and lives in spiritual obscurity due to error of ignorance (adumbration). So, his light (perception of life based on worldly definition of truth) deceives him and fills his body with darkness. How great is this darkness? He will live and die as a mortal if he fails to see and believe the true light of God.

Where does this darkness have its roots? Worldy knowledge (tree of knowledge of good and evil) will not reveal God's truth. When man relies on worldly knowledge to determine the truth of his life, he is blinded and lives in obscurity and ignorance of God. The tree of knowledge of good and evil has some good information which can be used to journey through this dimension of time in this world. But, there's no spiritual truth of life in worldly knowledge. This tree produces the fruit of death!