IMPACT AS LIGHT (3)

“Arise, shine; for YOUR LIGHT has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you” – Issaiah 60:1

God’s Prophetic People are ordained to manifest Lifting IMPACT as LIGHT: “Arise, shine; for YOUR LIGHT has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to YOUR LIGHT, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isa.60: 1-3). Isaiah in this passage, prophesied of an era when God’s people will not only receive and reflect His Light, but have His Light become ours! This opening line is a direct command to rise from darkness and let our light be seen, signifying a call to actively participate in God's work. 

This powerful image of "light" is used to represent God's Presence and Glory, signifying a call to arise from darkness and shine as a beacon of hope to the world. The Source of the light is God’s Glory, which is now shining upon His people, empowering us to radiate that same light. This message of Hope and Restoration calls Believers in Christ to essentially act as positive influences, bringing transformation to those around us through our words, faith, and actions. God's people are called to be instruments of light in a world shrouded in darkness. Psalm 36:9 buttresses the reality of this same truth: “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”

Light is impactful in unique ways, among which is that it enlivens, lightens, and lifts hearts and souls from depression. Light is a Lifter! It takes the entrance of Light for one to arise from slumber. Light is symbolic of awareness, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. To ‘be light’ means to be a witness concerning the truth of God's Word (Eph.5:8). Jesus came and lived as the LIGHT of the world: “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor.4:6). On ascending to Heaven, He left us to: “shine as LIGHTS in the world” (Phi.2:15b).

For Believers in Christ to be the light of the world means for us to perpetuate the purpose for which Jesus came: “That was the TRUE LIGHT which gives light to every man coming into the world…” (Jh.1:9). The phrase, “the Gentiles shall come to your light" emphasizes the transformative power of God's Light, drawing people from all nations to experience its radiance, representing the universal appeal of God's message. Light is never meant to be boxed-in. Light can become ineffective by being hidden! Light is meant to be seen and to allow people to see, arise, and be lifted: “When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, there is lifting up...” (Job 22:29, KJV).