Articles
by Laurie A. Moyer
The Father of Lights
James 1 talks extensively about the deceptive nature of sin. It admonishes us not to be tricked into sin, because the truely good gifts some down from the Father of Lights (v. 17). What does it mean to call God the Father of Lights?
1 John 1:5 says that God is light, and 1 Tim. 6:16 says He lives in unaproachable light. We also know His light will illuminate Heaven (Rev 22) making the sun unnecessary. These are figures of comfort for people who do not enjoy darkness. Why does darkness frighten us? Perhaps because it hides things, and even thought some of those things may be good or benign, we have a tendency to anticipate they will hurt us.
The most basic function of light is to give knowledge. Light on your path shows where you are stepping. It may not actively chase away malicious beasties, but shows them for what they are so that the informed can decide on a plan of action.
God is not tempted, according to James, because He is never deceived. He understands all that is happening and sees things for what they are. Jesus is the light shining in the darkness (John 1:5) because He shows us the way to live. He taught the truth, which dispells the lies of sin. He walked the road before us and showed how it can be safely navigated.
The cure for sin starts with the sacrifice of Jesus, but passes through our desire to follow and listen to His illuminating instruction. The Bible is still a "lamp to my feet and light to my path," as Ps 119:105 says, but it is not a cattle prod, forcing us to go one direction or the other. We must be engaged in actively searching out the way ahead. If we close our eyes to where we are going, we will end up in the ditch. Denying our feet are in the filthy ditch water does not change the fact they are wet. God shows us where our feet are and how to get back on the right path.
Why does He do this? Ps 103:13 says that God pities us, just as a father pities his children. He tells us the way things really are because He loves us. A father protects and provides for his loved ones, but one of his most crucial roles is to provide guidance. True love seeks to rescue the loved one from self-destruction and even help improve them, not just accept them as they are.
Children of God admire their father. Proverbs 17:6 does say grandchildren are a man's joy, but it also says that the glory of children is their father. Our Father has given us so much more to be proud of. He is the perfect example of providance, protection, nurture and care, and even instruction. The appropriate response is as Isaiah worded it, "You are our Father, we are clay--You are the potter, and we are the work of Your hand." (64:8)
If God is the Father of lights we need to be children of light, and even the light of the world (Matt 5:14). Part of immitating Him and His example is to tell and show others what is truth. When we pass on His message we will be helping others to see things for what they really are.
Laurie A. Moyer