October 23, 2019 (Wednesday)
On this date in 1879: Using a filament of carbonized thread, Thomas Edison tests the first practical electric incandescent light bulb (it lasts 13½ hours before burning out).
Every light bulb in our houses used this method of producing light until recent years, when the diode lights were introduced. The old-style light bulb will get hot enough to give off light but is strong enough to keep from burning up. An LED (Light Emitting Diode) is much like a transistor, using less electricity than a conventional light bulb while giving a brighter light if desired.
Governments around the world have passed measures to phase out incandescent light bulbs for general lighting in favor of LED bulbs. Phase-out regulations effectively ban new incandescent bulbs but allow the use of existing ones. So long, Thomas Edison. Hello, 21st Century.
This discussion has been about light bulbs, but the Bible takes the discussion of light to a much higher level. God’s first creation was light itself (Genesis 1:3). Isaiah predicted the coming of the Messiah as a light shining in the darkness (Isaiah 9:2). When Jesus was born, a light shined down from the sky, leading worshipers to his cradle of straw (Matthew 2:2). When Jesus confronted Paul on the Damascus road, he appeared as a blinding light (Acts 9:3).
Jesus described himself as “The Light of the World” in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. He also described you and me as the light: “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).