LET THERE BE LIGHT

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good” (Genesis 1:1–4).

The New King James Version reads: “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep”(Genesis 1:2, NKJV). Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase reads: “Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness” (Genesis 1:2, The Message).

God wasn’t unaware. He wasn’t absent. “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). These words picture a hen roosting on its nest, diligently protecting, always guarding, ever defending. The Holy Spirit of God was present even before creation.

Into the inky blackness, this bottomless emptiness, God spoke: “Let there be light!”

As we read on, we’ll discover that God didn’t hang the sun in the sky until day four. “God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth’ ” (Genesis 1:14-15). So, what, or perhaps, Who is the light given on day one?

Maybe Jesus answers our question. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). With His declaration, He also make a promise. “Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Now, consider your life. You once were in inky blackness, dead, lost, and alone. The Spirit of God was hovering over your life, even though you weren’t aware, until a Glimmer of Grace broke through, and the Light shined into your darkness. By grace you were saved. 

Can we see creation as a foreshadow of salvation? Can we see the Gospel of grace on the first day of creation? You can be sure, “anyone who follows (Jesus) will never walk in the darkness!”

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).