The Fourth Day: Light Sources Revealed (The Trinity)
Three Sources of Light
The sources of physical light were created on the fourth day. It seems to make that first day's light all the more important; it was required for the plant life created on the third day.
And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights-- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. 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 1:14-19)
There were three types of sources for light: The sun, moon and stars. And there are many passages indicating that each of them represents a part of the trinity.
The Sun -- God the Father
Just as the sun provides the necessary light for the earth, the Father is the provider of eternal life for men. The light of the sun can't be directly viewed without resulting in blindness. Similarly, man can't enter into the glory of the Father without dying. Remember, Moses was only able to see a bit of the back of God as He was leaving. Even that amount was enough to leave a radiance on Moses' face that the Israelites were unable to look at him.
He will be the light for the new earth; we won't need a sun anymore.
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. (Revelation 21:22-24)
The Moon -- Jesus
The moon provides no light of its own; moonlight is only a reflection of sunlight. We saw this in the Revelation 21 passage above. Now here is another hint about it in 1 John.
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:2, 6-7)
Another couple of passages compare this reflection of light to "being the image of God." This would be like the image seen in a mirror.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16)
This is very reminiscent of when Jesus said "If you've seen me, then you've also seen my Father."
The Stars -- The Holy Spirit
The stars are a picture of the Holy Spirit shining in the darkness. Why "stars" instead of a star? It's because He shines through those He indwells! Each of us who have the Spirit within us is a light to others. Here are a few of the passages where this is covered.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. (Philippians 2:14-16)
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and Sarah herself was barren-- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12)
Let's not get pious about it though. It's the Spirit that produces light, we are only the lamps that carry the light --the offer of eternal life which is available only through Jesus-- as we travel through life.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
We have been entrusted with the gospel. That is a most important task and privilege: We are ambassadors for Christ!
Three Time Tables
The sun has a daily routine as well as a yearly (solar) calendar it follows and the stars also follow that same yearly cycle. Each day, as determined by the son, is basically the same: evening and morning; sleeping and waking; resting and working. The stars mark the seasons: times for preparing the soil; planting crops; harvesting; rest. But the moon is on a 28-day (lunar) cycle: Creating the tides in the seas and even tides of the ground.
Oddly, there has never been a good connection established between the solar and lunar calendars. The moon appears to have no knowledge of the sun's timetable. But while continuing with this allegory (the sun representing the Father; the stars for the Holy Spirit; and the moon for Jesus), that same disconnect is true for the God the Father and Son. This is born out in a discussion that Jesus had with the disciples about His return:
I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:34-36)
The sun is consistently pulling the earth to itself; and the Father is consistently drawing men to Himself every day --all day long.
The moon provides an additional pull every six hours producing the tides; and Jesus puts change in peoples lives in order to draw them up. The tidal affects on the seas produce a lift of about three feet twice a day (water tides) while on the dry land the lift is about three inches. This hints at the fact that Jesus is putting extra effort into pulling the lost --those in the seas of physical life-- than those who are already saved. Does this remind you of His parable about the lost sheep?
The stars only provide light; they don't particularly pull the earth toward them. Likewise, we are lamps to hold the light --ambassadors of Christ-- to direct men to God for the true light; the life of men.