One of the earliest and most profound verses in the Bible is in the description of the beginnings of the universe when God is reported to have said “Let there be light.”
As we ponder the question of whether or not the existence we experience is the result of creation by God or the result of a lucky combination of accidents of nature, we need to recognize the incredible collection of miracles that define us and our world.
And foremost among those miracles is light.
Light is a form of energy, and a form that we are uniquely equipped to utilize. It is a miracle that we have come to take for granted even as we take advantage of its properties and benefits.
Light is the form of energy that radiates from our sun, warming our planet in the cold emptiness of space. Light from the sun provides the benchmark that gives us a way to count the passage of time. It is the variance of light that causes the seasonal changes that keep our environment in balance.
It is the light from distant stars that was the means of navigation on open seas for early explorers. It is the character of light that allows our science to more fully understand the mysteries of deep space.
Light is the form of energy that plant life absorbs and uses to fuel the growth that becomes our food supply.
But the most miraculous aspect of light is also the greatest evidence of our creation by the power we call God.
We most fully appreciate the miracle of light on those occasions when we observe and relish the view of a majestic range of mountains, the color spectrum of a rainbow, or the breathtaking moment of a colorful sunset.
It is our vision, our ability to detect light, that is the greatest of our senses.
Our ability to see is what gives us the capacity to appreciate the beauty of our world. It gives us the means to become aware of hazards before we encounter them. It gives us the power to detect the passing of day into night.
The gift of sight has allowed us to communicate through the ages by means of written texts, allowing us to hear the messages of our ancestors, long after their voices were stilled.
Certainly there are other life forms that exist without the benefit of sight, but even they survive though the gift of light as the earth orbits the sun through what scientist call the “goldilocks zone.” But those life forms do not create works of art or feel the rush of emotion that can only be triggered by the vision of love in action.
Light is such a vital element of our existence that it is almost impossible to imagine that it is merely an accident of nature, a simple form of energy.
When we struggle with our faith, perhaps the answer can be found in the subtle link between two verses in the Bible.
In Genesis we read, “Let there be light.”
In the New Testament book of John, Jesus is recorded as saying, “I am the light of the world.”
One miracle acknowledging another.