God's Lightbulbs (Genesis 1:1-5)

Sometimes the world feels like a dark place, doesn't it?    

• We feel spiritual darkness: so much religious error, so little knowledge of God           
• We feel intellectual darkness: so many lies, so little truth
• We feel moral darkness: so much evil, so little goodness     
• We feel emotional darkness: so much depression and anxiety, so little joy and peace

Is there any light in this darkness? Yes, there is. God is light and in him is no darkness at all (1 Jn. 1:5). 

GOD BRIGHTENED THE WORLD WITH CREATION

• Light was God’s first word (Gen. 1:3)          
• Light was God’s powerful word (Gen. 1:3)

But sin came in and darkened the world. Can God do anything to restore the light?

GOD BRIGHTENED THE WORLD WITH CHRIST

• He brightened the world at his birth (Luke 2:9)     
• He brightened the world with his life (John 8:12)         
• He brightened the world with his resurrection (Matt. 28:1-3)            

But Christ has gone back to heaven. Can God do anything to restore the light?

GOD BRIGHTENS THE WORLD WITH CHRISTIANS

• God brightens the world of Christians: He brightens our minds, our feelings, our future (2 Cor. 4:6)
• God brightens the world through Christians: We are God's lightbulbs in the darkness (Matt. 5:14-16)

We live in a dark and darkening world. But God is still saying, "Let there be light!" God brightens our dark world through creation, through Christ, and through Christians.

When the world says, "Let there be dark!" hear God saying, "Let there be light!"

LIVING THE BIBLE

• Receive the light of Christ to brighten your world.
• Reflect the light of Christ to brighten the world.

This episode of Living the Bible lines up with Expedition 1: Day 1 in  Exploring the Bible Together: A 52 Week Family Worship Plan and Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids.