GOD IS LIGHT by G. S. Honeywell

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 10, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 23.

GOD IS LIGHT.

By G. S. Honeywell

BY G. S. HONEYWELL.

THE apostle tells us that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” He is a pure light. He is the Source and “the Father of lights” in the physical as well as in the spiritual world. In Dan. 2:22 we read that light dwelleth with him, that is, light inhabits the throne of God and he dwells in it (1 Tim. 6:16), and it is distributed by divine investment throughout the starry expanse. This thought is brought out in Job 25:5: “Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.” Light is the servant of the Lord and the companion of his word; he said, “Let there be light, and there was light.”

The stars which shine with such brilliancy are not pure lights, but only reflect light from their source, the throne of God, as the moon does from its source, the sun. Astronomers tell us that the sun shines with 600,000 times the brightness of the moon. But notice the change which is to take place in these orbs of light, as foretold in Isa. 30:26. In the new earth state the moon is to shine with the brightness of the sun. Its brilliancy will be increased many thousand times; but the sun will only shine with seven times its present brightness. The sun does not preserve its present ratio of brightness in comparison with the moon.

Let us examine the Scriptures a little further and see if we can discover a reason for this remarkable change. In the twenty-first chapter of Revelation we read that, in the Eden to come, Christ’s throne and tabernacle shall be here upon the earth; “and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for . . . the Lamb is the light thereof.” You will notice that the moon is relatively near the earth, and when Christ’s throne of glory is established on the earth, the moon becomes a luminary of surpassing brilliancy, evidently because of its close proximity to the throne of Christ. In view of these facts, is it at all strange that when our Saviour died on Calvary, the earth trembled, and the sun bore witness to him as its Creator and Source of light, by putting on the garb of mourning for its dying Lord? Matt. 27:45, 51.

Our God is a prophetic light, for “in him is no darkness at all.” In every sense Christ is the light of the world, and without him we grope in darkness at midday. The future is the secret of the Almighty (Dan. 2:28), but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7), and through this means he maketh known to his people what shall be in the latter days. His revealed word is “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path;” and by it we are enabled to walk in the freshness of the morning light of unborn history.

The Lord is a spiritual light, penetrating the darkest clouds of unbelief. “The Lord is my light, and my salvation.” He is that light which bringeth salvation. As before stated, light is the servant of God, and the companion of his word. This companionship is so sacred that light will not go where the word is rejected. How important then that the world have an opportunity to hear the word pure and simple! So the Lord says: “He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jer. 23:28, 29.

Christ is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. “Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth,” is the kind invitation. By steadfastly gazing into his face, we become changed into the divine image. As we draw near to the Lord by living faith, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, we become a light by reflection that cannot be hid. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16. In this manner we are to be the disciples of Christ, walking in the light and bringing forth much fruit to the glory of God. As the receiving of God’s word brings light, and the light salvation, so in like manner the rejection of the word brings darkness, and that darkness death. Christ said of the Jews, “In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:9. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.

Let us follow the light into the perfect state, and notice what are some of its effects upon the children of God in the Eden to come. We are told that “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Col. 3:4. When Christ appeared on the mount of transfiguration, “his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light,” for he received glory of the Father. And when Moses came down from the presence of the Lord, his face reflected the glory of the Lord so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold him. But in the world to come, the Eden restored, the righteous “shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and . . . as the stars forever and ever.”

Akron, Ohio.