God's Light Prevails and Rules
And God made the two great lights to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:16 and 18)
Gen. 1:1-5, 14-16; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 90:4; Jn. 8:12; Heb. 1:12, 11:3; II Peter 1:10-12, 3:8
What Is God Saying?
‘In the beginning, God created.’ It was God who created it. It may have taken millions of years to bring it all about, but that is nothing to the Creator whose years are without number. He whose years never began in our time reference is the One whose years will never end. God created everything in the beginning and from the beginning, including human beings in His image. It is not for us to pontificate on how and when it happened. The important thing is that he did it and it was done just the way He wanted it. That is why after each phase of His creation, God's concluding words were, ‘It is good.’
How Does This Apply To Us?
God is the One who gives light in darkness, form in the void, order in chaos, clarity in confusion, hope in despair, joy in sorrow, and life in death. It is the strength of His love in Jesus Christ that enables us to decide for the right when all goes wrong and to walk confidently through the darkest night. ‘I am the Light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12). His sovereign strength and wisdom rule our days. His sovereign peace and love rule our nights. If we follow Him we will have the light of life, day or night, in peace or conflict, in joy or sorrow, forever and ever.
Pray With Me
Lord God, You gave the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. You separated the light from the darkness. In daylight hours when my life is crowded with things to do and people to see, I am in danger of forgetting Your rule and Your care. In the midst of that which is temporal, lift me by Your Spirit that I may be m tune with the eternal and anchored to the infinite.
In the night, let me be conscious of Your ruling power and Your unfailing love. When the pace of life slackens and thoughts turn inward, defend me from fear and distrust and fill lonely hours with You. In the confidence of Your promise never to leave and never to forsake, I affirm Your rule at night.
Since it is also in Your power, Lord of Creation, to separate the light from the darkness, speak the Word over my soul that You once did over the universe, ‘Let there be light.’ Drive away the darkness of fear with the light of an imperishable hope. Dissolve the darkness of sin’s death with the light of forgiving love.
To the eternal praise of Him who is the light of the world. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Pray in the first light of morning, for He gave us the sun to rule our days. Pray for guidance through every problem. Pray for strength to lift any burden. Pray when the day is done and the world is wrapped in a mantle of darkness. He rules over the night. His love casts out fear. His peace is the door to healing sleep. Let praise be our prayer and His love will be our peace.
