“And the earth was without form (tohu — a ruin, vacant), and void (bohu– empty); and darkness (choshek– darkness, absence of light, as opposed to araphel — gross darkness, see Isa. 60:2) was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved (rachaph– to move, shake, flutter, see also Deut. 32:11) upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light…God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.” (Gen. 1:2,5.)
Light and photosynthesis
We cannot say precisely what may have existed prior to the activity described above. We can say the earth was in a state of ruin, and was devoid of any form of life. If we had been on the earth at that moment in time, we would not have been able to see anything; there was nothing but darkness.
Light from the sun made life a possibility. Without a continued source of light, living things, which would populate the earth, would be unable to survive. Light provides growth by enabling plants to produce food energy through the process known as photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis converts atmospheric carbon dioxide into solid sugar and liberates oxygen in the process. This deceptively simple reaction contains two processes: first, photo chemical and second, biochemical. The photo chemical reaction involves specialized chlorophylls which, in a process called photolysis, becomes the source of oxygen. The biochemical reaction produces the compounds ATP and NADPH. These ultimately form sugar phosphates, which in turn synthesize into higher carbohydrates, proteins, and fats– food from the plants.
When light rays contact a green plant, some of their energy is changed to chemical energy which the plant uses as it makes food out of air and minerals. Almost all living organisms on earth depend directly or indirectly on photosynthesis for their food supply.
God’s first step was to prepare a set of circumstances that would allow life to exist; then He took steps to see that it might continue.
Natural and spiritual lights
“Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years…and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven…to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness.”
When it is day, there is no need for any other light; the sun is sufficient. On a clear night, the stars light the heavens beautifully, but the moon certainly rules the night sky. And other heavenly bodies may be seen in the darkness — comets, meteors, etc.
In scripture, certain men are referred to as lights. II Samuel 21:15-22 records several battles with the Philistines. “Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.”
Proverbs 4:14-19 contrasts the way of the just with the way of the wicked. Solomon writes, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men…the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” By selecting the way of the just, we make a conscious effort to follow a path that requires illumination; something outside ourselves. If we choose that path, the light becomes brighter and brighter, and the way becomes clearer to follow, as we go on toward perfection.
The truth of God is certainly the light that leads us on that path. David sang in Psalm 43:3, “0 send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.” (See also Psalm 119:105.) This may also refer to the Lord Jesus Christ, who, as the light of the world, will lead the way to the security of the kingdom.
The apostle Peter seems to make a similar reference in II Peter 1:19. There, he says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” Peter indicates with certainty that to follow “cunningly devised fables” is of no benefit; instead, we should follow in the lighted way of the Truth. If we follow in that way our steps will be firm, our path clear. He could also be referring to that resurrection morn years before when he raced to the grave site. In the darkness of the tomb, light and life had come; Jesus had come forth to live for evermore. Jesus became the “morning star” (Gk. phosphoros — light of the morning). If we let him, he will come to the darkness in our hearts and dispel it with his light. If we continue in his light, we will be in the right path when he “arises with healing in his wings.”
When going through whatever trials that God chooses to bring upon us, we must keep the truth in our hearts and minds. We cannot turn to the world around us to be blinded by conventional wisdom. The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. Those who practice this wisdom will perish. Isaiah writes, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” They have no hope of the resurrection to life, and can give no sound, meaningful advice.
We can be lights
Jesus refers to his disciples as “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14-16). He goes on to make an analogy which would have been quite clear to his hearers. As dusk falls, the lights on a distant hill provided guidance for those traveling, hastening to the nearest town. Upon entering, they could flee the dangers of the night and find some means of shelter. Disciples today can provide that great benefit to those walking in the darkness of the world.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One