In the early days of creation God spoke into the darkness and said, “let there be light.” The darkness was dispelled. He proceded then to create all life in six days followed by the sabbath. Chaos and darkness symbolize death, order and light symbolize life.
In the construction of the tabernacle God instructed Israel to build a golden lampstand from which six branches extended from the base making a total of seven limbs, each with a light at the top. In Exodus 25:31-40 God designs the lambstand to look like a tree with branches, interestingly enough, at all stages of life. thus bringing to mind the tree of life. From the darkness of chaos God brought light and life. It was only by the light provided by the golden lampstand, and its illuminated buds, that anything could be seen in the tabernacle of God’s presence.
In john 8, verse 12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” It is only as we follow Jesus that the confusion of darkness is dispelled and death is overcome by resurrection life.
As we follow Christ we too become the “Light of the world.”