introduction on let your light prevail
Answers
DIWALI, the brightest and one of the most unifying days of the year, is with us; and it is incumbent upon all, especially the Hindu community, to strive to let the light of knowledge overcome the darkness of ignorance.
The glorious Festival of Lights was brought to Guyana by the descendants of East Indians, who came to these shores more than 170 years ago.
Diwali has always been a colourful celebration; but, over the years, it has evolved in grandeur and splendour, and today it is more colourful than at any time before, thanks to the leaders of the Hindu community.
Answer:
PLZ MARK AS BRAINLIEST
Explanation:
“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:1)
Light is one of the most prevalent themes throughout the entire bible, a thread that starts man’s journey on the physical earth and closes out the story in Revelation.
In the first few verses of Genesis, the very first thing God (the Word, Jesus Christ) does in recreating the earth is to bring physical 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. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness” (Gen. 1:2-4).
Then, in the last few verses of the bible, John explains that after God has set up His kingdom and recreated a spiritual heaven and earth, that “they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light” (Rev. 22:5). The physical celestial lights that God created for man in the current kosmos—sun, moon, and stars—are no longer necessary because we will have the Light with us and God’s glory will be all that is needed to see.
During His ministry, Jesus told His disciples (and us, by extension), “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14, 16). We’ve each probably read that verse a couple hundred times in our lives, and typically what I’ve heard said is that it’s about how we’re meant to live righteous lives and be examples of God’s way. And that’s true.
But a message I heard at the Feast last year got me to thinking about the analogy a little differently, including various aspects of being a light—basically, what does that really mean and require of us? After digging in somewhat, there are a few insights about light that helped me in seeing even deeper meaning to that verse in Matthew. They’re not earthshattering revelations, but rather reminders that should enhance our understanding of the type of light we are meant to be.
Light illuminates
I know, that feels like a “duh” statement.
So maybe another way of putting it is that it reveals.
The Hebrew word that’s used in that very first Genesis verse referenced above (ore, H216) means illumination, bright, or clear. In Jesus’s command in Matthew 5, the Greek word used (phos, G5457) also means to shine or make manifest (a.k.a. clear, plain, apparent). Both imply an enlightening or uncovering of something that was there but hadn’t previously been seen or understood.
Jesus used this type of verbiage during His ministry, particularly when speaking of His role in revealing the Father to His disciples and declaring the gospel (Matt. 11:25-27, John 14:6-10). Interestingly, the word translated “reveal” in these verses is apokalupto, also translated “revelation” (as in the book of Revelation).
God consistently uses the theme of light and darkness as an analogy for His calling and the need to separate ourselves from this present world. Peter tells us, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Pet. 2:9).
John states this even more clearly: “God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5). Darkness is not a thing in and of itself—it is the absence of light, and even a tiny light helps negate absolute darkness. Darkness symbolizes the absence of God, which is why the very first thing that God did during the (re)creation of Genesis is to bring light. It symbolically combated the darkness, where Satan works, and began to illuminate God’s creation. A similar thing happens to us when God begins to work in our minds.
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them…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” (II Cor. 4:3-6).
Are we reflecting the illumination of our Creator, bringing a tiny light to the darkness of this world? Whether through honesty, graciousness, patience, positivity, or myriad other qualities, it’s a question worth asking ourselves. I don’t mean things like overt evangelizing, but rather considering whether our co-workers or peers would think of us in this manner regardless of what they think about our beliefs.