Lightness and darkness

Many parts of the bible -- and especially those written by John -- emphasize differences between lightness and darkness, with those concepts appearing to represent righteousness and unrighteousness. This starts right at the beginning of the bible (Genesis 1:4-5, KJV),

God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Note that God divided, or separated, the two. Note, also, that "the evening and the morning" were the first "day." That is, morning (lightness) follows the evening (darkness), and both together go by the same term used to describe the light -- that is, "day." The implication, it would seem, is that lightness will eventually overcome darkness.

The New Testament writers expand upon that dichotomy. For example, Paul writes (1 Thessalonians 5:5, KJV),

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

As we pray, let us remember our pursuit of the "lightness" and be watchful for dangers of the "darkness."