The Strand Study Bible

GENESIS GENESIS that God uses the term in Scripture to bring to the finite conception of man some understanding of the infinite nature of God. And, of course, what is true of light is true of CHRIST . Therefore, the same beauty found in the unchanging characteristics of light is also found in Jesus. There are seven unchanging characteristics of light: 1. Light never changes First discovered in 1676 by the Danish astronomer Ole Christensen Roemer (eleven years before Isaac Newton’s publication of PrincipiaMathematica ), light is fixed, steadfast and stable and journeys unimpeded through the atmosphere of space at 186,000 mps. The same is true of CHRIST (Heb 13:8). The reason some Christians live in fear of losing their salvation is because they fail to understand this specific property of light. Listen to what Jesus, the unchanging One, said in John 10:27-29: There isn’t a man or his movement upon the face of the earth that can change the outcome of your salvation. It’s secure in Jesus. If we truly understood the properties of light and the fact that Jesus holds to those same principles, we would never doubt our salvation again. Salvation is not based on me holding unto Jesus, but Jesus holding unto me. Paul said in II Timothy 1:12: ... for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day Light never changes. CHRIST cannot, nor will He ever change His mind about saving you once you’ve been saved. 2. Light never dirties No matter what passes through it, light cannot be defiled, contaminated, or soiled. The same is true of CHRIST (Jn 10:11). He can no more wrong you than do wrong. The reason some Christians doubt the goodness of God is because they fail to understand this specific property of light. James said in James 1:13: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man : God is good all of the time. In fact, it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4). If we truly understood the properties of light and the fact that Christ holds to these same principles, we would never doubt the goodness of God again. Light never dirties! CHRIST cannot, nor will He ever do us wrong. 3. Light never bows to darkness Darkness must flee whenever the light appears. The same is true of CHRIST (Mt 4:8-10). The reason some Christians live in fear of evil and the Evil One is because they fail to understand this specific property of light. John said in I Jn 4:4: 41 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish , neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand . Christians need not fear the darkness or the Evil One who controls it (Jms 4:7). If the dark is so powerful, then answer me; what is the speed of darkness? Light will never bow to darkness. CHRIST cannot, nor will He ever bow to darkness and allow the Devil to defeat us. Even when Christ turns a Christian over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh (I Cor 5:5), it is so the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 4. Light never fails You can always depend on light to “break through.” The same is true of CHRIST (Acts 18:9-10). The reason some Christians live in fear of their circumstances is because they fail to understand this specific property of light. Christ promised His own in Mt 28:20: …and, lo, I am with you always , even unto the end of the world. Amen. Just as the sun rises each morning on time and without fail to disperse the darkness of the night, so the Son always “breaks through” in time. Just because you cannot see the light at the end of your tunnel doesn’t mean its not there. Light always “breaks through.” Light never fails. CHRIST cannot, nor will He ever leave you or forsake you. 5. Light makes everything else visible Of what use are books without some light to read them? Of what use are mountains or oceans without some light to see them? Of what use are sports without some light to play them? Light is absolutely essential to the enjoyment of every comfort that makes the life of men delightful. The same is true of CHRIST (Jn 1:9 and 9:5). The reason some Christians struggle spiritually and fail to enjoy the Christian life is because they fail to understand this specific property of light. Christ said in John 10:10: … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly . Christ not only wants to save us ( they might have life ), He wants us to enjoy our salvation ( they might have it more abundantly ). Of what use is the Christian life if we fail to experience it? The Light that made you a Christian is the same Light that “shows” you what you’re missing as a Christian. Light makes everything else visible. CHRIST cannot, nor will He ever be satisfied with being just your Savior. Christ wants to be the Lord of your life as well. 6. Light makes everything else understandable Without light we cannot see to know what we need to understand. In essence, we fail to know what we fail to see. The same is true of CHRIST (II Cor 4:6). He is our guide into spiritual truth. The reason some Christians often remain ignorant spiritually is because they fail to understand this specific property of light. Christ said in Mt 11:28-30: Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (that is, the evil spirits that indwell false prophets): because greater is He ( GOD the HOLY SPIRIT ) that is in you, than he ( Satan ) that is in the world