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Light; Love; Life

By Craig S

Light, love and life are three qualities, which in the Bible are attributed to God. They are qualities, which are progressive; they do not and cannot exist without one another. Light, love and life are qualities, which form part of the wonderful character of the God of the universe, and as such they form part of the characteristics of all true believers.

Light creates by causing life to spring forth, it reveals by sending its rays everywhere, and it conquers because in its presence darkness ceases.

Whilst darkness is passive, light is active – it penetrates and completely destroys darkness. Darkness can only exist where light is absent.

Light reveals the true shape of things and brings out hidden beauty, without it there would be no life. Light cheers and warms, it gives hope and joy, and so light is a fitting word to describe the God of the universe.

The Bible speaks of God being the Father of lights (James 1:17), the Possessor of light (1 Pet. 2:9), and dwelling in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16); but far greater than all of these is a statement made when describing the God of all living things “God is light” (1 John 1:5). He dwells in the heavens as a Being of Light, and so all the wonderful qualities of light are attributed to God.

As light reveals it is used in the Bible as a symbol of God’s mind revealed to man whether in written or oral form, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psa. 119:105); this is opposed to darkness, which is a symbol of that which is not of God, or opposed to God.

As God is light, His children must reflect that light, “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another … (i.e. true Christian association with one another)” (1 John 1:5-7). So to be true followers of God, belief in what He teaches and what He has revealed is extremely important, and to do what He requires of us is a necessity. His light continually shines; His children can turn to Him at any time in prayer and receive the warmth and comfort of His presence.

Jesus Christ, was truly the Son of God as he came into the world to save the world and reunite it with the God of the universe, and so he came to reveal to the world God’s light. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).

Jesus proclaimed himself to be the light of the world and said, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). What does God’s light reveal to us? Well, first and foremost it reveals the fact that God is love, a love not as we often associate the term ‘love’, but a Heavenly love – a love which is self-sacrificing and compassionately devoted to its object, it is an unconditional love, one which can be shown toward those who are enemies as well as those who are friends. It is a love, which is patient; a love, which is kind; a love that does not envy, and does not boast, nor is it proud. It is not rude, nor self-seeking, a love, which is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. A love, which does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. A love, which always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers. A love, which never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

It was because of God’s untiring love that Jesus Christ was sent to the earth in the first place, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16); “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).

This love of God was revealed to mankind by Jesus Christ, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” (1 John 3:16), “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

True love is shown by the followers of Jesus, just as he revealed God’s love upon earth, so too must his followers to the best of their abilities “And this is love – to live in obedience to the Father’s commands” (2 John v.6). Only by obeying the commandments given by Jesus Christ and God are we accounted as friends of Jesus. “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14).

And with this and a dedication of our lives to our Heavenly Father we are set free from the life of serving ourselves, and begin what is known as a new life one which can ultimately end in eternal life. Yet it will take time, and it needs a great deal of nurturing and growth to reach this maturity in Spiritual things.

God is life, “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light…” (1 Tim. 6:16). God is immortal or a being with an endless life, all life springs from Him.

Just as Jesus revealed God’s light and His love, so too has he revealed the life of God. He said, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in himself” (John 5:26).

Jesus is styled in Acts 3:15 “the author of life,” he prayed to God and declared, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Just as true followers of Jesus reveal the light and love of God in their lives, so too must they reveal a newness of life, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Pet. 1:23), true believers are to figuratively “die to sins (i.e. do them no more) and live to righteousness;” (1 Pet. 2:24). This new life, which the believer now enters into, is a life of peace and comfort now, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:6-9).

True believers can only live this new life if they first know the Truth that God has given and thereby reveal the light of God in their lives. Jesus said “Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light” (John 5:36), upon revealing the light of God, the natural progression is to show forth God‘s love, there can be no true exhibition of this where the light is not revealed, and whilst revealing this love, a new life is entered into, one which will ultimately spring into eternal life – a life where there is no suffering, no sorrow, no pain, no tiredness, and no death, but joy and love, and happiness forever.

This is God’s promise to those who reveal the qualities of Light, and Love and Life, from such Darkness, and Hate, and Death will flee away. As there can be no life without love, and no love without light, those wishing to partake of these promises firstly have to find the light, to this end this website has been created.

The Dunedin Christadelphians claim to have found the light as revealed in the word of God – the Holy Bible, and we invite any who also wish to find that light to browse this site, attend any events advertised herein, and most importantly to read their Bibles.

May God bless you in your efforts.