Light

 

Creation Reference: Sunlight

Visible Verse: John1John 1:5-7

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.


Creation Reference: Light

Visible Verse: Heb 10:1

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.


Creation Reference: Darkness

Visible Verse: Psalm 107:10-16

Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.


Creation Reference: Lighted path

Visible Verse: Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.


Creation Reference: Shade

Visible Verse: Psalm 121:5-8

The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Science: The sun's light travels 93 million miles before arriving on earth as sunshine, bringing with it both light and heat. Some of the sun's light, called ultraviolet light, is invisible to us and can hurt our eyes and skin when we get too much of it. Ever wonder why you get sunburned when you're in the sun too long? Ultraviolet light is the culprit! The heat we receive from the sun is critical to life on earth, but at times it, too, can become too much for us, causing dehydration and heat stroke. In order to avoid harmful amounts of light and heat, we must find shade, like that provided by the Hawthorn tree on the front of this card.

Application: Just as a shade tree provides relief from the sun's intense light and heat, God desires to shade us from harm. We find His shade when we get in to the Bible and allow it to work deep into our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. His shade is found in the company of other Christians as we worship, pray, serve and do life together. Jesus warned us of the challenges we would face in life when He said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b). When Jesus overcame the world by taking on our sins at the cross of Calvary and then defeating death for all time through His resurrection three days later, God’s shade became available to all who would call upon the name of Jesus Christ. Now that’s cool news! May you be reminded of this powerful Biblical principle with every shade tree you enjoy!


Creation Reference: Light

Visible Verse: Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?


Creation Reference: Sunlight

Visible Verse: Psalm 113:2-6

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?


Creation Reference: Red sky

Visible Verse: Matthew 16:1-4

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.[a] A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.


Creation Reference: Lamp

Visible Verse: John 5:35-36

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.


Creation Reference: Sunlight

Visible Verse: John 3:19-21

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.


 

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.