"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Other versions give the verse something like this: "For God, who said that light should shine out of darkness, has let it shine into our hearts."
This is not perhaps so exactly literal a rendering, but it makes emphatic the fact that is contained in the text, that the light which in the beginning God caused to shine out of darkness, is the same light that He lets shine in our hearts. And why does He let it shine into our hearts? "To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
One may read this text very many times without getting the full benefit of it. It is only when we consider it in relation to what goes before, and remember what the general subject of these chapters is that we can get the force of these words.
One ordinarily thinks that God has shined this light into our hearts, in order to give us the light of the knowledge of His glory. It is true that this result will follow as a matter of course; but what the text teaches is that the light shines into our hearts for the sake of others, to give to others the light of God's glory. God makes His people the light of the world, not for their own sakes, but for the sake of others.
If anyone will read carefully from the latter part of the 2nd chapter of 2 Corinthians to the first part of the 6th chapter, paying no attention to the chapter divisions, but reading all as one connected letter, he will see what is meant. In the latter part of the 2nd chapter we read, that God "makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Compare this with the text first quoted. Then in the 3rd chapter we read that God has made us able to be ministers of the new covenant, that is, ministers of the Spirit: "Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:6)
And so follows a statement of the glory of this ministration. It is the glory which transfigured the face of Moses, as he talked face to face with the Lord. The children of Israel would not look upon this glory, and so they remained in darkness; but we, beholding this glory with unveiled face, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:7-18) Here we learn what effect the glory has upon us personally when it shines upon us. "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not." (2 Corinthians 4:1)
Here we learn that this shining of the glory upon us is not simply for our sakes, but it is that we may minister it to others. "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:3-6)
Then passing on into the 5th chapter we read that we are ambassadors for Christ, since God has put the word and ministry of reconciliation into us, and beseeches sinners by us even as He did by Him. "And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) "We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you that you receive not the grace of God in vain." (2 Corinthians 6:1)
Surely no one can fail to see that God designs that everyone of His people should shine the light of His glory forth to the world, even as the heavens do and as Christ did. "For so has He commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." (Acts 13:47)
The glory which God has given to Christ, He has given to us, and for the same purpose that He has it, namely, that we may shine as lights in the world, and thus glorify God. "Glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify You." (John 17:1) "Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit." (John 15:8) "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified." (Romans 8:18,28-30)
God has glorified His Son Jesus, and has given us the same glory that He has given Him. By beholding Him we are conformed to His image, so that we are His brethren, He being the firstborn. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2)
The glory that God has given us does not appear to the eyes of the world, even as the glory of Christ did not. Yet those who were enlightened by the Spirit, saw the glory of Christ, "the glory as of the only begotten full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
So the glory which God gives us is now in the form of grace and truth; but when the Lord will come it will shine forth so that all may recognize it as glory. What is the measure of that glory? "Unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." (Ephesians 4:7)
When Christ was on the mount of transfiguration, the glory that was in Him as grace and truth shone forth, so that "His face did shine as the sun." (Matthew 17:2)
Therefore, when He comes, and we appear like Him, "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matthew 13:43)
That is, the glory which God even now gives us, is the glory of the sun. But glory is power, the power of grace, so that the power which God gives us now, not simply to enable us to be saved, but to bring others to salvation, is the power that is manifested in the whole heavens. " They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3)
Therefore, "Arise, shine!" (Isaiah 60:1)--Present Truth, October 27, 1898.