Searching for grace

He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. Genesis 1:16-19

When God placed the stars in the sky, He placed them there with a divine purpose; that purpose was to give light on the earth. The stars original purpose, according to Genesis, was to be the light of the world. Now we can be sure that the stars were never intended to be the full reality of the light of the world, but rather were made to be an example of the true light of the world, Jesus Christ!

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. John 1:9

So we know that Jesus is the true light of the world, but we also see God creating the stars in the sky as an example of  Jesus, the true light of the world. This is significant, especially when we read the Apostle Paul letter to the Galatians, where he explains that God had in fact announced the gospel in advance to Abraham.

The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” Galatians 3:8

Have you ever wondered how God did that? How did God preach the gospel in advance to Abraham? Well, when we read the account of Abraham, we find God asking him to do something very simple; yet incredibly profound.

God took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:5-6

What we see happening between God and Abraham in this moment was God announcing the gospel of grace! Think about it, what did God ask Abraham to do? He asked him to look to the stars, the light of the world, and believe!

God’s plan has always been for mankind to receive the promise of salvation through looking His Son Jesus Christ, the true light of the world, and believing! Here we see God announcing that very same gospel in advance to Abraham!

Just like Abraham, we too look to the light of the world and believe, and we too receive a righteousness that comes by faith! When Abraham looked up to the light of the world, in that moment God spoke about the fulfilment of His promise to Abraham. This is an incredible picture of the good news of God!

It is when we looks to Jesus, the true light of the world, and put our faith in Him, that God makes His promise to us. The good news from God is that His promise of a new covenant of grace and a righteousness that comes by faith is available today to all who look to Jesus, the light of the world, and believe!

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