And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4
Though the first headlights were invented in the 1880s, the first electric headlamps were introduced in 1898 on the Columbia Electric Car from the Electric Vehicle Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and were optional. In 1912, Cadillac created cars with the first modern electric system, including electric headlights.
Headlights are critical components of any automobile. Without them, it is impossible to get from one location to the next in an automobile safely. Indeed, it would be dangerous and even deadly to drive a car at night without headlights. Such recklessness endangers the life of every driver on road.
The first thing God did when He created the world was to produce light and separate the light from the darkness. Without light, the beauty of God’s creation would not have been visible to the physical eyes. We would not have known and appreciated the creative power of God and His greatness without light. The human body needs light for survival. Without light, our eyesight would be affected, and the chemical system in our bodies would be dysfunctional. Light causes vegetation to grow, and the ground generates a harvest from planted seeds because of sunlight.
Indeed, light generates energy and gives life. Thus, the gospel exhorts believers to walk in the light and to be the light in this world of darkness. Darkness depletes creativity, stifles innovation, negates possibilities, and ultimately destroys hope. Jesus commands His disciples to let their light shine so others will see their good works and praise God. It is our light that will help the world to see the crucified Christ in all His glory so they can follow Him.
Believers do not only have to be spiritual lights, we are to operate as headlights in this world of darkness so we can transform it into a kingdom of light. Headlights are in front of an automobile. They shine brightly and cannot be hidden. We cannot allow the darkness of this world to eclipse our light thus enabling Satan and his demons to weaken our testimony and neutralize our ability to do the great commission work of Jesus Christ. We should use our light to eradicate racism, sexism, classism, and all forms of injustices in the world. Without our light, the world will not know where to find God and how to live according to the will of God. As headlights, we make it possible for people to travel the stony roads of life without crashing in hopelessness and despair.
In today’s text, God separates the light from the darkness. This separation was crucial for the viability of everything He created. The mistake many people make is to allow their light to be intertwined with darkness. They do so when they compromise their integrity and godliness. Thus, the Bible exhorts believers to be holy in all we do (1 Peter 1:15). Paul told the church in Philippi: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable if there is any excellence if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Our light stands out when we cultivate a life of holiness. When we compromise our integrity and the authenticity of our testimony as transforming agents, we lose the credibility to proclaim the gospel of truth. The world does not want believers to do what they do, live as they live, and talk like they talk. They want our light to lead them out of the darkness. They may not be living in the light; they certainly don’t want to stay in the darkness either.
Questions for Personal Reflection
How can you be a light for this world of darkness?
What are the things that are preventing your light from shining for others to see the God in you?
Prayer- Blessed Lord, I think you for calling me out of the darkness of this world and into your marvelous light. Please help me to shine my light brightly for all others to see you in me and glory your name. May I not allow the darkness of this world to eclipse my light and weaken my testimony as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.