God, Who "knoweth all things" (1 John 3:20), knew that the world needed physical light. In Genesis 1:3 we read, "And God said, Let there be light; and there was light." In the Bible we often read of light being set in contrast to darkness. "And God divided the light from the darkness" on the first day of creation (Genesis 1:4). In the spiritual realm there is also a plain distinction between light and darkness. For example, Jesus explained Paul's mission to the Gentiles in this way: "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God . . ." (Acts 26:18). There are but two possibilities: one either walks in the light, or else he walks in darkness, but he cannot do both at the same time (1 John 1:6,7).

Mankind desperately needs spiritual light in order that it might see how to walk. Just what is that spiritual light that the world needs so badly? Let us note three Bible answers.

The world needs God for He is light. The Psalmist declared, "The LORD is my light and my salvation" (Psalm 27:1). Again, we read, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). No Bible description of God is more plain than the three words, "God is light."

In the writings of the apostle John we often read that Jesus the Christ is light. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:4-9; emphasis mine, rdc). Of whom did John the Baptizer witness? Of "the Light." Later in that same chapter we learn that the One about Whom John witnessed was Jesus (John 1:29-34). Thus, Jesus was "the Light." Jesus Himself said, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life . . . As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world . . . I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46). In addition, it is written of that great "city" whose builder and maker is God, "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Revelation 21:23).

How blind is the person who does not see his need for Jehovah! The world needs God, and not vice versa. We need God for our very existence. "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing; seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:24,25). Further, we need the Lord for spiritual guidance. Why? Because no matter how educated a person might be, by his own wisdom he still cannot know the proper way to go in life. The proof? "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). Man's greatest need is salvation from sin. The only One Who can save us is the God of heaven Who created us. Without His grace, no one could be saved: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Let us never be ashamed to bow before the great I Am and confess our need for Him!

The world needs God’s word for it is light. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path . . . The entrance of thy words giveth light" (Psalm 119:105,130). The Holy Spirit speaks also of the light of the gospel: "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Paul instructed the Christians at Philippi to shine as lights in the world by "holding forth the word of life" (Philippians 2:15,16).

Yes, a person can live physically, even though he does not obey the gospel of Jesus. But, without the gospel the world lies in spiritual darkness. "And the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19). Through the gospel God calls men out of that darkness into the light of His dear Son (2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9). Also, without the gospel man lives in ignorance, not knowing the good to which he should hold and the evil from which he must abstain (1 Thessalonians 5:21,22). Only in the gospel does God show us what is truly "good" and "bad" for us.

We should never entertain the slightest doubt that the world needs the gospel, seeing that Paul by inspiration wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation . . . " (Romans 1:16)? We should never be ashamed to tell the world this great truth: God’s word "is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). If we accept this plain Bible fact, then should we not use our energy to preach the gospel to the world that needs it so badly?! The Jewish leaders once told the apostles, "And behold ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us" (Acts 5:28). Brothers and sisters, how much are you and I doing to fill the place where we live with Jesus' gospel? It will not happen by accident! We must work diligently! Every man and woman needs the gospel, and it is God's will that you and I, as His children, teach it to them. How much effort are you and I really putting forth to get the Lord’s message of light to the lost people of our community?

The world needs the light of Christians’ godly example. To the Christians in Ephesus the Holy Spirit said, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). As children of light, we must walk in the light as our Lord is in the light (1 John 1:7). Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14,16). We understand that our example does not produce faith, which comes only by hearing the gospel (Romans 10:17). We also recognize that our example cannot wash away another person’s sins. However, Jesus' words plainly show that our light or good example ("good works") can play a role in influencing others to glorify our Heavenly Father. "This present evil world" (Galatians 1:4) needs the light of our godly example!

Where is our light at work when our co-workers openly admit that they sometimes call in sick, when in reality they are not sick at all? Where is our light when our "friends" begin to tell us dirty jokes? Where is our light when other parents are screaming and swearing at the coach, blaming him/her for our child’s team’s loss? Where is our light on Wednesday nights, when the saints assemble to study, sing, and pray together? Where is our light when the faith of others begins to waver? Our light must shine at all times, not only on Sundays when we are with other Christians. Our family must see our light. Our friends and co-workers must see it, too. The Holy Spirit told Timothy, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation [‘conduct,’ NKJV], in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). Do we doubt that the Lord wants us to be the same kind of example? Paul also instructed Titus, "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works" (Titus 2:7). Suppose others imitated the pattern of your life and mine. Would our pattern help lead them to the Christ, or away from Him?

No one doubts the need for physical light. As God's children, though, we see beyond that and are ever aware that the kind of light which the world needs above all others is spiritual light. We have seen that the Bible points out three "lights" that the world cannot do without: (1) God, (2) the word of God, and (3) the godly example of Christians. Are we giving and showing the world the true light that it needs?