WITH THE COMING of the sun is this appreciation found in the psalms. The sun whispers “Good morning!” to the world, as it “rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other.” (Psa. 19:6a) As it does so, “nothing is hidden from its heat.” (Psa. 19:6b) There is a spiritual allegory at work here, for and in us. God is infinite, while we are infinitesimal; he created the universe out of nothing through his divine power, and he created us with just the tiniest bit of that same supreme capacity. He created us in his “own image” (Gen. 1:27), and his “divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.” (2 Pet. 1:3) God, our Father, has shown us himself in Jesus, who “is the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), whose “light has dawned on those living in the land of the shadow of death.” (Matt. 4:16) Such were we, until his light shone upon us and we found life in him: “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)
Salvation is ours in Jesus, “for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12), but sanctification is only ours as a daily struggle in overcoming trials. Paul says that we do this as we “continue to work out our salvation in fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12) Jesus tells us that we must “take up our cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23:24 )
There are times when this sounds too challenging for us, but Peter reminds, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Pet. 1:3-4) Paul further tells us that we should diligently pursue such obedience through faith “in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Peter additionally encourages us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 3:18)
Just as the sun clearly reveals the created world around us, so does the Son of God reveal the world of powers and principalities, and the struggles we face simultaneously in both realms. The pathway to victory in the daily walk is found only in Jesus. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:13) Jesus describes those who reject him versus those who choose him in this way: “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.” (John 3:19-21) Light is energy, and light transmits heat. The focused light of a laser can burn through steel. God’s light is dangerous to a sin-hardened heart. Isaiah asks, “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” (Isa. 33:14b) The answer is found in suffering the trials of life in faith and obedience to the one who permits them. Peter tells us that, “These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Pet. 1:7)
The apostle that Jesus loved speaks from the experience of a long lifetime of following after him. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: 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, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)
How thankful we are that the Father awakens us each day to the light of creation and the light of heaven. We are awakened not only to the mind-stretching concept of infinity as all creation speaks, but also to the Spirit-quickening realization of eternity as the essence of God is birthed and grows within us. As the sun arises, in grateful appreciation we whisper back, “Good morning, Father. It is a good day to walk in your light.”
Q. Does my path in life have enough light?
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