THE SPEED OF DARKNESS

John 1: 8-10 “ John was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”

By Van Yandell

Darkness is the absence of light. Light speed is measured as 300,000 kilometers per second in a vacuum or 186,282 miles per second. Light is moving; darkness is stationary. Light has a source, darkness does not.

Light speed amounts to about seven and one-half times around the earth in one second. The light from the sun takes eight and one-third minutes to reach earth and five and one-half hours to reach the planet Pluto.

The nearest galaxy to our Milky Way is the Andromeda galaxy. If we could travel at just one tenth the speed of light it would take 25 million years to get there. Voyager I is traveling at 38,000 miles per hour and at that speed it will take 16,700 years to reach our nearest solar (sun) neighbor, Proxima Centauri.

Light is at times described as truth and darkness as untruth. Light reveals; darkness hides. Thieves love darkness; the honest and honorable prefer light.

Genesis 1: 1-3 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

We find numerous opinions of when “In the beginning” actually was. Also, what was Genesis verse one referring to with the word “heaven?” Regardless of what one’s personal thinking may be on these questions, we can possibly agree on what the “the earth” referred to.

The earth was “without form and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” “Without form” indicates an irregular shaped object. The earth was not a geometric or symmetrical shape. I’m visualizing a mass of rock, mud, and numerous elements essential for God to produce life. My guess is God plans ahead.

We see in verses fourteen through nineteen, God did not produce our star (the sun) until the fourth day. The question has been asked, “Where did the light come from those first three days?”

Many believe God produced that light from another source, probably Himself. Nonetheless, the light was there and the beginning of all life came from the light of Him (John 1: 1).

Verse fourteen indicates God produced the lights in the firmament on the fourth day. By using the word “firmament” in this verse might we assume the word “heaven” in verse one refers to the visible night sky or the earth and the solar system?

Regardless of one’s answers to these unanswerable questions we could possible agree, there was light on the “first day” produced by our Creator. Light was and is a necessary component for the production and sustaining of most life.

Light also is an indication of truth, honesty and reality. Jesus referred to Himself as “Truth” in John 14: 6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Bible believers, based on that verse, accept as fact, Jesus and a faith based belief in Him is the only eternal salvation.

Although we have no proof or even any physical evidence that the human has such a thing as an eternal soul, the other evidence in the Holy Bible offers us a pathway to a sustainable belief.

Bible prophesy, that has for certain come to fruition, offers compelling evidence of the Bible’s authenticity and inspiration by a spiritual, supernatural being (God). How could Jesus have known the Jerusalem temple would soon be destroyed (Matthew 24: 2)?

Could Daniel have foreseen the existence of air travel and computers (Daniel 12: 4)? Could the writer of Genesis 12: 3 have known nearly 4000 years ago a Savior would come from Abraham’s seed and bless the world?

John 8: 12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Light is in motion, life sustaining and essential for the original production of life. I was recently asked “Why do you believe in God?” My answer was and will likely continue to be “There is no other reasonable or logical explanation for why we exist.”

The sequence of creation in Genesis chapter one, verifies a scientific process initiated and created by a superior spiritual being (God).

Darkness is motionless, cold and deceitful. If you don’t believe that, walk through the house on a dark night with bare feet. A toe will likely find a table or chair leg.

Trees and other plants grow toward light. Plants depend on light for photosynthesis to happen which produces chlorophyll from which a by-product is oxygen.

Light produces actions in plants and animals. Hunters and game watchers know the best time for their sport is early mornings. Ball parks are lit brightly so the players can maximize their game.

Jesus is indeed “The Light of the world,” (John 8: 12). The Bible teaches He is the only eternal salvation and by a faith based belief in Him, crucified for the remission of sin, resurrected and ascended; we can be saved.

If anyone needs that assurance offered by our Lord, go to Him in confession and repentance. If you are already a believer, tell someone. You may be their shining light in the darkness. Light moves, darkness does not, you are the light!

Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary. His email is vmy3451@gmail.com