Every year millions of tourists visit caves or caverns to go below the earth's surface to see the wonders of the subterranean world. One of the things these visitors always remember about the adventure is how pitch black dark it is when all the lights are turned off. There is absolutely no light present that can be detected by the eye. At one time absolute darkness was present on the surface of the earth. Today it is not that dark on earth's surface even during the darkest night. However, when God began the creation of the world there was no light present. Scripture tells us that just after the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, he said, 'let there be light' (Genesis 1:3). Immediately, upon his command the entire earth was bathed in light.

The story of creation provides us with a spiritual parallel to the saving of a lost soul. The question may be asked, What is the significance of God's work in the creation of light? To answer this question, the creation of the world is a picture of the saving of the soul. Just as the Spirit of God moved upon a dark, dead and void earth, he also moves on a lost soul. This soul is dead in trespasses and sins as Ephesians 2:1 reads, 'And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.' We also find in the Scriptures that the lost soul dwells in darkness. In II Corinthians 4:6 we read, 'For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' And in I Peter 2:9 we read, 'But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:' (You may also wish to read Psalm 107:10-14.) There are many other passages that deal with the parallel of the lost soul and death and darkness. So, God determined that the first thing that he must do to save a soul was to bring that soul light. As with the earth, that soul could not bring itself life sustaining light. God is the only way that life producing light is brought to the lost man.

...without true understanding and knowledge one cannot get saved.

Light represents a number of things in the Bible. It is most often associated with understanding. For example, in II Corinthians 4:4

6 we read, 'In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' Does this light save the soul? Most assuredly not! However, without true understanding and knowledge one God in the face of Jesus Christ.' Paul also had just written 'the light of the glorious gospel of Christ' referring to the truth and good news about who Jesus is.

Where do we get this light for understanding the truth? Examining the creation record, we see that God first created light that shone over the entire world. We read in Genesis 1:3 that God said 'let there be light'. This light was not from the sun. We know that because at this spoken word the whole earth went from darkness to light. The sun can only directly illuminate half of the earth at one time. Then, upon the creation of light and the affirmation of his approval of it, we read in Genesis 1:4-5 that God separated darkness from light and named the two night and day respectively. In other words, half of the earth was dark and half of the earth was light. A cycle began at that time of the twenty-four hour day/night period. We know this because we read, 'and the evening and the morning were the first day.'(Genesis 1:5) This light represents the truth about God as revealed in such things as nature. This light represents the more generalized truths about God. The Bible says in Psalm 19:12, 'The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.' Another example of this is in Romans chapter one where Paul is forming his case against man having an excuse to escape God's judgment. Paul writes in Romans 1:1920, 'Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.' Although this is not enough revealed knowledge about the doctrine of salvation for a man to get saved, it is enough to draw men to God to find out more about the gospel. This light too is always present everywhere.

Once God has begun drawing a lost soul to himself using subtle and more generalized truths about himself, he then uses other more specific forms of light. It was not until the fourth day that God actually created the sun, moon and stars. In Genesis 1:14-19 we read,

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Jesus is represented by the sun. He is the ultimate light source. Once God created the sun, it became the primary light for the world and would be what would sustain it. God created the moon to reflect the light of the

Preachers shine the light of God as they deliver words that a person needs to hear.

sun at night. This is a picture of the Bible being a reflection of Jesus. We do not worship the Bible, but we do turn to it to find out what God would have us know about Him. The Bible was given that we might come to Him (John 5:39 reads, Search the cannot get saved. Notice that Paul connects God's work in creation to the saving of the soul when he writes, 'For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.) He also made stars to give light at night. Stars represent his preachers. Preachers shine the light of God as they deliver words that a person needs to hear. The Bible says in Romans 10:17, 'So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' It is important to realize that the moon and stars are only pertinent at night. Night is the time when you cannot see the sun. This night can represent a time in the soul of a lost or saved man. Night is that time when one is searching for where God is. The moon is an encouragement that the sun is there, somewhere, still shining. Distant stars, though not bright enough to take the sun's place, are reminders that the greater sun is still shining. When the true 'Daystar' arises and reveals Himself to that lost soul, salvation has truly come. He is the truth, He is the life, and He is the Savior.

-Brad Hill