Let There Be Light
God's first words breathed into this universe at the beginning of creation are the inspiration of Unity's interpretation of how we create in everyday life. Timely for this beginning of the year, join us this Sunday for another uplifting take on what no longer will be a mystery as we learn to embrace our Divinity even more in 2023.
Listen & Watch
Sermon Notes
Scriptures
Main Scripture
“When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” —Genesis 1:1–5
Supporting Scriptures
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” —John 1:1–5
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’” —John 8:12
“He is the source of light in all luminaries, and is entirely beyond the darkness of ignorance. He is knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the goal of knowledge. He dwells within the hearts of all living beings.” —Bhagavad Gita 13:18
“The sun does not shine there; nor do the moon and the stars, nor do these lightnings shine. How could this fire? Him shining, all shine after. All this shines by his light.” —Katha Upanishad 2.2.15
Verse of Light (Qur’an 24:35)
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp,
The lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star,
Lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree,
Neither of the east nor of the west,
Whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire.
Light upon light.
Allah guides to His light whom He wills.
And Allah presents examples for the people,
and Allah is Knowing of all things.
Metaphysical Interpretations
*Revealing Word
**Metaphysical Bible Dictionary
light*—the understanding principle in mind. In divine order it always comes first into consciousness. Light is a symbol of wisdom. When Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), He meant that He was the expresser of Truth in all its aspects.
day*—represents the state of mind in which intelligence dominates. The idea back of day is light, or the dispensation of intelligence. In the Scriptures day and night are symbols for degrees of unfoldment, day being understanding; night, ignorance. (see night)
darkness*—the ignorance of the sense man; the absence of Truth (light) in consciousness. Darkness represents undeveloped capacity. It is caused by lack of love. "He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness" (I John 2:9).
night*—represents human understanding in which man's thought net works long and hard with little gain.
Elohim God*—the original Mind in creative action. El means "the strong and ever-sustaining one," and Alah, "to swear or formulate by the power of the Word." Elohim thus represents the universal Principle of Being that designed all creation.
Yahweh*—the original Hebrew form of Jehovah. It means "the self-existent one" who reveals Himself to His creation and through His creation.
Jehovah**—the I AM, the spiritual man, the image and likeness of Elohim God. In the King James Version of the Bible the Hebrew "Jehovah" has been translated "Lord." Lord means an external ruler. Bible students say that Jehovah means the self-existent One, the I AM. Then instead of reading "Lord" we should read I AM. It makes a great difference whether we think of I AM, self-existence within, or "Lord," master without. All Scripture shows that Jehovah means just what God told Moses it meant: I AM. "This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations" (Exod. 3:15).
