From Edie: Explore the powerful biblical theme of light from Genesis to John, and discover how Jesus—the Word and the Light—shapes our stories. Be inspired as a Christian writer to shine truth, hope, and healing into the darkness through your words.
Jesus the Word of God: Light
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it (John 1:1-5, NET).
Light is woven like silver thread throughout the tapestry of the Bible Story. In the beginning, the Light took up His needle and pierced the darkness with the first sparkling strand. Let there be light became light that was good (Genesis 1:4), and the light was given dominion over darkness (Genesis 1:16-18). The light that ruled in God’s name became light in the dark to God’s people, even when a darkness so thick it could be felt came upon the Egyptians (Exodus 10:21-23). As they wandered through the wilderness, free from slavery yet in need of guidance, the light became a pillar of fire to lead them (Exodus 13:21). God’s presence is the thread; He is the Light of our lives. The presence of God in the darkness illuminates all of time.
God’s people have long understood that God and light are one and the same. The Psalmist called the Lord his light and his salvation (Psalm 27:1). Throughout the Old Testament, the Light is repeatedly declared. He is Jesus, pre-incarnate, there all along. Jesus is both the Word of God and the Light of God. He is the Life and Light of humanity.
The darkness is not dark to Him (Psalm 139:11-12).
Jesus embodies the story of every person, and through His story written in light, plunged into the darkness of death, bursting through the sunrise of resurrection, He sheds light on all our stories.
The Word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, wrote the Psalmist in Psalm 119:105. Jesus, the Word who is fully God as described in John 1, is that Lamp.
With Jesus as our Lamp, we Christian writers have the potential to write light words. We can shed light on the stories of those chained in the darkness of depression, sickness, and despair. It is possible for us to punch our pens into the tapestry of trauma and weave light in the darkness.
Let’s write stories by the light of the Lamp today, beloved.
Lord, my light and my salvation, use my writing to bring light to the darkness. Amen.
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Audrey Frank is an author, speaker, and storyteller. The stories she shares are brave and true. They give voice to those whose words are silenced by shame, the hard things in life that don’t make sense, and the losses that leave us wondering if we will survive. Audrey and her family have spent over twenty years living and working among different cultures and world views, and she has found that God’s story of redemption spans every geography and culture. He is the God of Instead, giving honor instead of shame, gladness instead of mourning, hope instead of despair. Although she has three different degrees in communication and intercultural studies, Audrey’s greatest credential is that she is known and loved by the One who made her.
Audrey is the author of Covered Glory: The Face of Honor and Shame in the Muslim World (Harvest House Publishers), an outpouring of Audrey’s heart to introduce others to the God of Instead. Shame is not unique to the developing world, the plight of the women behind veils, young girls trafficked across borders; shame is lurking in hearts everywhere. Through powerful stories from women around the world, Covered Glory illuminates the power of the Gospel to remove shame, giving honor instead. Available at favorite booksellers: BARNES & NOBLE, BOOKS A MILLION, AMAZON.
