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As you read the following verses, jot down the things they tell you about Jesus, the Light. Ask God to give you a greater understanding of what spiritual darkness is and what you have been given and why, through the devotional that follows.

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

As missionaries in an Alaskan village, my husband and I learned well of the soul sickness that a sunless existence can inflict. The long winter's darkened days, at times produced bleak depression. For me they were often a chilling reminder that most of our village lived in spiritual darkness as well, ensconced in an eternal night with no hope of escape. To them, and to all who sit in the shadow of death, Jesus declared, I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).

Few realized when Jesus spoke these words, that they were reminiscent of the time when darkness hovered over the earth and the infinite Creator called out, Let there be light, catapulting a plan almost beyond comprehension into place. In that moment, the inestimable essence of Being, the Living God, chose to go public with His glory, to manifest His attributes, His character, and His wondrous ways. Before this, He was clothed in unapproachable light, the joy of His existence known only to Himself (1 Timothy 6:16).

When God made us in His image, it was to draw us in, to enable us to actually dwell in His radiant presence. Then our souls, like mirrors, would reflect the splendor of His very self. His eternal plan was to thus fill the earth with His glory, enabling us to ever live in enjoyment of His light. To this end we were created (Numbers 14:21, Isaiah 43:7).

But all too soon sin reared its ugly head, obscuring the light of God's glory and sentencing humanity to the doom of eternal darkness. Not only was man shut up by it, but he came to love the very conditions that had destroyed him. Could there be a greater tragedy than souls once made for the Light of glory being blinded by a web of darkness?

Yet our rebellion did not derail God's purpose to fill the earth with His glory. Scripture tells us that even before creation, the Godhead communed over the inevitability of sin and designed a plan that would set apart a people in whom the light of His glory could be restored. We glimpse a shadow of this in Jesus's high priestly prayer: Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory...(John 17:24)

This is what Christ purchased with His precious blood on Calvary -- a people who would be with Him to see His glory. When He delivers us from sin's dark cell, an amazing thing happens. Our eyes are unveiled to see that which our depravity obscured -- that for which we were created, and for which we've longed without knowing it. The Light shines, and we can't help but become consumed with what we've seen.

Jesus unveiled an even loftier wonder when He proclaimed, You are the light of the world. Not only would His children see His glory, but now, transformed God-saturated believers would experience the joy of making Him known to those still in darkness. This was the plan set in motion before time began, the way in which God would pursue His passion for a glory-drenched earth. And since the day of Pentecost, Christ's followers have marched forward, glory-bearers bidding others to join in proclaiming the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).