Quote: A Consistent Theme

~ God As Light Is Woven From The Start To Finish In Scripture ~ 

Have you seen this symphonic theme in Scripture?  Do you understand the ramifications of a God who is light? 

The following is an excerpt from a book.

The concert hall was buzzing with the hushed voices of thousands of people anxious to hear the evening’s performance by the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. My wife and I looked forward to another extraordinary concert. We were not to be disappointed.  

One piece in particular was especially good. I remember hearing early in the introduction an interesting and unique tune which was further developed throughout the piece as it was played on various instruments. Then at the end the theme came into play again, bringing a lovely conclusion to this masterful piece.

In a similar fashion woven throughout the Bible, from the very beginning to the very end, we find the concept of light in various manifestations.

It is the first thing we read about in the creation story. “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).

Then at the end, in the very last chapter of the Bible, we find that in heaven God Himself will be the only source of light. “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light” (Revelation 22:5).

Just as there are various meanings for the word today, “light” is used many ways in Scripture. One consistent use of the word is in reference to God. For instance, in the Old Testament we are told, “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1); “the light of Your countenance” (Psalm 44:3); and the prophet Isaiah wrote, “a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy” (Isaiah 9:2-3). “The Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8); “His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, and there His power was hidden” (Habakkuk 3:4). Also, the Shekinah glory of God in the Holy of Holies was a supernatural light that appeared on the mercy seat, or atonement cover (Exodus 40:35).

Consider how often light is involved when God reveals Himself to man. God revealed Himself to Moses through the light of a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-4). In this instance God used the relatively dim light of fire in the form of a burning bush to reveal His brilliance to Moses because the extreme brightness of God who is light is far too intense for man to look upon. Later we read, “Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him” (Exodus 34:29-30, see also 2 Corinthians 3:7-8). Even having seen only the back of God (Exodus 33:23), Moses was so radiant that others could not look at him!

God used the light of fire to proclaim His presence on many occasions. A pillar of fire was used to guide the nation of Israel at night (Exodus 13:21-22). On Mount Sinai God descended upon the children of Israel with fire (Exodus 19:18). God sent fire to consume Elijah’s offering on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:38-39). Ezekiel was given a vision of fire to warn of coming judgment (Ezekiel 1:27). And God used fire at the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-3). God often used the light of fire as a visual manifestation of His presence.

Another example of God revealing Himself in the form of light is seen in the New Testament account of Saul’s conversion, where God’s appearance was in the form of a bright light, resulting in the temporary blindness of Paul (Acts 9:3-9).

Additional examples of God as light in Scripture include: “You are resplendent with light” (Psalm 76:4 NIV). “Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2). “They looked to Him and were radiant” (Psalm 34:5). “He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations ... May His name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun” (Psalm 72:5, 17 NIV).

In the sixth chapter of Isaiah we read of the seraphim, a special type of angel. They are in the presence of God, extolling His holiness. The glory of God is so bright that Isaiah says the seraphim cover their faces with two of their six wings. Like man, the seraphim are created beings, and therefore the brightness of His glory is too much for them to observe.

This is not an exhaustive list of the Scriptures that show a relationship between God and light.

In heaven we will dwell with God, who is light, and we will then fully understand all the intricacies of both physical and spiritual light.

Sunlight / Sonlight

Sunlight is woven throughout our physical existence. Without physical light there would be no life on earth.

Sonlight is woven throughout the written Word of God. Without an understanding of the God who is light and acceptance of His Word and His work on our behalf, there is no spiritual life. 

~ from “GOD LIGHT: Sunlight - Sonlight, pgs 49-51 (ISBN: 0-7414-7553-7)              

Learn more about this important book at Amazon, the Publisher, or the Author’s website.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Where is Your God? 3

~ 7 Aspects of God’s Presence ~         

Are you continually conscious of the omnipresence of God in your life and affairs?

He is Above You (to guard)  ~  “Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above” (Deuteronomy 4:39a).

He is Underneath You (to support)  ~  “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27a).

He is Behind You (as a rear guard)  ~  “And the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12b).

He is Before You (to lead)  ~  “I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron” (Isaiah 45:2). 

He is at Your Right Hand (to protect)  ~  “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8b).

He is Round About You (to shield)  ~  “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever” (Psalm 125:2).

He is Within You (as Companion & Comforter)  ~  “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27).  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).  

If you enjoyed or found comfort in this post, you might enjoy a previous post which shows how God surrounds you as seen in Psalm 23 as well as ALN’s first post regarding Where is Your God? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

The High Flying 737

~ Jesus Christ Did ALL Things WELL! ~

“And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak’” (Mark 7:37).

Do you agree with this historical record? If not, or if you are unsure, I encourage you to read the eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus Christ. Any one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) would be appropriate. My recommendation would be the Gospel of John first. Remember, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is one of the most historically proven facts of that era of time (for example, the risen Savior was seen by over 500 people at one time). 

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 109

~ Messiah Would Be Like Melchizedek ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’” (Psalm 110:4).

The Messiah  

“So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ As He also says in another place: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’” (Hebrews 5:5-6).

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:19-20). 

“Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’ For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath,(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”’), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:11-22).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Is That In The Bible? 4

~ “To Thine Own Self Be True” ~

This posting is a response to a blog entitled “7 Things You Won’t Find in the Bible… I Dare You to Look.” I am taking that challenge! The fourth listed phrase was “To thine own self be true.” I would agree that the phrase is not found in our English Bible—but what about the principle behind the phrase?

Words by themselves are meaningless—it is only when we attach meaning to the words that communication occurs. The principle behind this phrase can be found in the Bible, but the phrase can be heresy when different meanings are behind the words and the phrase. 

“To Thine Own Self Be True”  ~  The author of that piece supported his position with the following. “When prompting people to follow their conscience on matters, the oft-touted ‘To thine own self be true’ is occasionally cited as a Biblical recommendation. In truth, this saying originates in the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet. Polonius, the older counselor of Prince Hamlet's uncle, King Claudius, is in the midst of dispensing advice to his son Laertes (who was about to leave Denmark and return to France) when he speaks forth the famous line: ‘This above all things: to thine own self be true’ (Hamlet, 3.1.81).”

To that blogger’s credit, he goes on to say, “But really how good is Polonius's advice? Scripturally, we can only trust our conscience to guide us as far as it is being informed by the Spirit of God. Men, of their natural selves, are entirely corrupted; and so, to hold true to themselves would be to choose poorly indeed. Rather, we should seek God in prayer and ask Him to guide us in the paths of righteousness (cf. Psalm 23:3).”  

A clear message of the Word of God is that God wants integrity of character in His children above all else. Character is more important than performance or external results!

King David knew this, “I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with my integrity” (1 Chronicles 29:17). 

Consider also, “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9). “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3). “Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner” (Proverbs 13:6). 

“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7b).

If “to thine own self be true” is talking about walking consistently according to the directions of Scripture—about walking in integrity, then certainly this principle is from the Bible.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW