Arise and Shine (For Your Light Has Come) | Part 1

One of the greatest joys a person can experience is finding a solution to a long-standing situation. It brings a profound sense of relief, knowing full well that you can finally relax and that your mind is in a safe place.

The scripture commands us to Arise and Shine. This is a two-part command: first, to rise, and immediately following, to shine. In this article, we will study these words deeply to get a clearer understanding of what God is saying to us.

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you." — Isaiah 60:1

What activates this two-part command is the arrival of the light. The grace that accompanies this Light is what empowers us to rise and radiate. To truly grasp the depth of this verse, we must ask ourselves a few critical questions so we don't miss the point:

• Why has the light come?
• Why did it come at this particular time?
• Why do I need to arise and radiate this glory?

The Arrival of the Light

"The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." — Genesis 1:2-3

The arrival of the light was God playing His divine role in the order of things. Light represents the divine intervention of Almighty God. In Genesis 1:2, we see a state of disorder. God’s ultimate response was to create a lasting solution for mankind, not a temporary fix.

Think of this light as the environment—the world—that God intended for us to live in. Therefore, the light was not just literal illumination; it was the framework of the reality God designed for us.

"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." — Ephesians 1:4

Light was the very environment in which God created everything; He never created anything to dwell in darkness. This is why we are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Simply put, God chose us to exist within the light He made, so that we may walk in clarity and victory rather than darkness. The arrival of the light is, first and foremost, God’s divine input to establish the order He always intended.

The Light of Salvation

This light also signifies "The Light of Salvation." The arrival of light is God establishing a safe haven—a place of permanent abode for His children.

Imagine this light as a secure safe-house in the middle of a chaotic, wild environment filled with dangerous predators. Whoever runs into that house is instantly safe. This is beautifully illustrated across scripture:

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." — Proverbs 18:10

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." — John 3:16

"For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light." — Psalm 36:9

All these verses point directly to the arrival of Light and its protective purpose. True salvation came through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." — John 1:4

The life of Christ gave birth to a new reality where we can live and experience the fullness of God. This new world is the very evidence of the Light we speak of. The life of Christ serves as the gateway into the illumination our lives desperately need to function. We can only operate optimally in the light; no human soul can survive or fulfill its ultimate purpose outside of it. The life of God, therefore, is the entrance to fulfilling your destiny.

Light Lords Over Darkness

"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." — John 1:5

Another profound attribute of the light is that it eliminates darkness by exposing our lives to the truth. As the scripture declares:

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." — John 8:32

This is precisely why the greatest enemy of darkness is the light. Darkness thrives by keeping its victims far away from the truth, lording over many simply because light is absent.

Genesis 1:2 is a perfect example of a life void of light. A life completely distanced from the truth becomes filled with emptiness and confusion, leaving no dwelling place for the Spirit of God. Conversely, the light is the natural habitat of God's Spirit. When we live in the light, we are living where the Spirit of God abides.

Darkness wants to prevent anyone from experiencing the beautiful joy that comes with the arrival of the light. A hardened heart that antagonizes the Word of God, or an attitude irritated by the mere mention of the name of Jesus Christ, is simply a life that has not yet been exposed to the transformational power of the light.

In Summary

Before we can truly Arise and Shine, we must understand the nature of the Light that has come and the specific purpose for which it arrived. Grasping this reality allows us to fully embrace the love of God, who produced this light so we might walk in it and be exposed to the truth needed for our ultimate liberation.

In the coming weeks, we will explore exactly how this light transforms our daily lives, enabling us to radiate the glory of God. Until then, remain deeply grounded in Christ.