First Words, Part II
After the inaugural post (First Words) on The chalktalX Blog, it spurred a curiosity in me to see what are the first words by God that are given to us in the Bible. I opened my Bible to Genesis and found them in verse 3: “let there be light”. The very first words by God that are given to us involve the announcement and commencement of light while scattering darkness. Why do God’s first words involve light? The Bible teaches that words are important: the tongue is like a ship’s rudder and words can be like a small spark that creates a massive fire (James 3:4-5)...so why “let there be light”? So, I turned to the concordance in the back of my study Bible for other verses involving light.
Here they are:
You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. 2 Samuel 22:29
Let the light of Your face shine upon us. Psalm 4:6b
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:8
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1
You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game. Psalm 76:4
The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment. Psalm 104:2a
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2a/Matthew 4:16
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:23
And, it continues…Job 38:19; Psalm 56:13, 119:130; Isaiah 2:5, 49:6; Matthew 5:16; John 3:19; 2 Corinthians 6:14, 11:14; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:7.
It seems God Almighty’s first words are far more than flipping on the light switch for all creation. God’s revealing His very character and nature to all in that He Himself is Light…He’s revealing how great, majestic, and radiant He is…He’s revealing that His glory is here for you to bask in…He’s revealing Himself and invites you in though He does not need to or have to. Praise be to God Almighty for His first words in giving all creation Himself!
Now Christian, “in the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). One simple measure of letting your light shine is simple: be kind. Is there anything more our cities and society need more of than simple kindness?
I recently overheard a colleague state, “that is the sweetest thing I have seen in a long time!” I couldn’t help but join in: “what happened”? They went on to share that a 6th grade student tripped and spilled all their items on the ground…not a single classmate laughed at them. They simply stopped, checked on their classmate, picked up their items, and went on their way. It was a simple act of kindness. I can’t help but think and believe that those simple acts of kindness started in those students’ households. So much of the way we live and act starts there.
Would saying all of it starts in the household be too much of a stretch?
How can you better position yourself to allow God to let His light shine in and through us more today than ever before?
Written by Warren M. Grimm