First John 1:5 says, “…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” What does this mean? The website
(Got Questions Your Questions. Biblical Answers.) states, “Note that we are not told that God is a light but that He is light. Light is part of His essence, as is love (1 John 4:8). The message is that God is completely, unreservedly, absolutely holy, with no admixture of sin, no taint of iniquity, and no hint of injustice.” God is the “Giver of spiritual light by which we can see the truth. Light exposes that which is hidden in darkness; it shows things as they are.
To walk in the light means to know God, understand the truth, and live in righteousness.”
Light, as with God, is complex, and no single answer to “what is light?” may satisfy its many aspects. God is incomprehensible, and we cannot know everything about Him. However, we can explore three characteristics (benefits) of light that help us understand God, but realize this doesn’t exhaust all that “God is light means.”
Light Guides
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” When I worked at a camp during my summer breaks in college, I would walk back to my cabin at night sometimes. The trail through the woods didn’t have much light so, I would carry a flashlight (no iPhones back in the day). As I shined the flashlight ahead, I could see where to step next and not get off the path. God and His Word guide us. They keep us on the right path.
Light Guards
If I were going to break into someone’s house (which I am not), I would choose a time at night when it is dark, and no one is home. Darkness could conceal my actions. But if there were lights on inside the house or lights came on as I approached the house, I would reconsider my plan. The light exposes the danger that is present. As we draw close to God, who is light, He protects and guards us.
Light Gives Life
According to National Geographic, “Most life on Earth depends on photosynthesis. The process is carried out by plants, algae, and some types of bacteria, which capture energy from sunlight to produce oxygen (O2) and chemical energy stored in glucose (a sugar). Herbivores then obtain this energy by eating plants, and carnivores obtain it by eating herbivores.” Since God is light, He is the giver of life as well. He gives us physical life (Psalm 139:13-16) and eternal life through Jesus (John 3:16). We are dependent on God, light, for our very existence.
Since God is light, those who trust in Him gain the benefits of guidance, protection, and life. God also encourages those who trust in Jesus to walk in the light to have fellowship with God, fellowship with one another, and to signify Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:6-7). May God illuminate our lives so that we can see if we are experiencing true life in Him. If we are, let’s keep walking in that direction. If not, may He lead us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
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