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What Does ‘Ôr Mean For The GOP & Sleep?

What Does ‘Ôr Mean For The GOP & Sleep?

Last updated on: September 11, 2026 at 12:06 am by Martin Thomas Johnson

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What Does ‘Ôr Mean For The GOP & Sleep? 2026-09-11T00:06:56-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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This week’s big news has been the first-ever Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. The president rallied at the conference to help build support for Republican congressmen up for reelection who are not doing well in the polls.

Trump’s Republican party

However, many of the campaigning congressmen opted not to attend this week’s desperate attempt to gain votes for the GOP. During the first night of the convention, the president even promised to pay every adult American a $5000 dividend if the GOP wins both the Senate and the House this November. Then today, the president promised to pass a $500 Obamacare rebate check to the citizens he forced off of their affordable healthcare plans with no replacement for insurance. Americans are still waiting for their tariff and DOGE checks the president pledged to send out last year.

The president is trying to buy as many votes as he can since even Fox News has his approval rating failing. The truth is, the president’s own supporters have gotten tired of his unchristian and un-American policies:

Deceptive
Greedy
Unloving
Untrustworthy

Perhaps the supposed conservative party is remembering our call to be the light in this corrupt world to reflect God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 5:14-16). We are to love our enemies and our neighbors (Leviticus 19:18, Luke 6:27-36).

We must help those who cannot help themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9, James 1:27). God’s people must put others first instead of our selfish wants (1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:3-4). God’s people must remember not to fall asleep if we are to be the light in the darkness (Matthew 5:14-16; 25:1-13).

What Is Light

As summer nears its end, most of us are clinging to those last few days of daylight. It is natural to desire to experience the light, especially for God’s people. Light manifests itself in many forms (physical, emotional, natural, and spiritual).

Image by Pixibay

Light is defined as “Something that makes vision possible.” Light has an effect on everything and everyone it reaches/touches. God’s people are often referred to as the light because we are to reflect God’s loving, divine nature (Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Corinthians 3:18).

That is why the Bible has a lot to say about light (Psalm 119:105, John 8:12, 1 Peter 2:9). This fallen world is sinful and full of darkness (Genesis 6:5, Ephesians 6:12). God called His people out of the dark world and set them apart to be a light in the darkness (Acts 26:17-18, Ephesians 5:8-11, Philippians 2:14-16, Colossians 1:12-13). We don’t get to live and act like this fallen world if we belong to God (Romans 6:1-4; 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:17-24, Colossians 3-10, James 4:4, 1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 2:15-17). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about light.

‘Ôr

The Torah tells us that in the beginning there was darkness until God spoke and created light (Genesis 1:1-5). God created the light to give life to everything in the universe and called it good (Genesis 1:3-18).

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for light is ‘ôr, and it can also mean “Lights, day, bright, clear, flood, herbs, lightning, morning, or sun,” depending upon the context it is used. Once sin entered the world after the fall, the world became a darker place (Genesis 3:16-24; 6:5).

God set His people apart from this fallen world to be a light to the nations (Leviticus 20:26, Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 7:6, Isaiah 42:6-7). God created a nation of light just like He did in the beginning (Genesis 1:1-31):

Light
Sky and the heavens
The ground
The Sun, Moon, and stars
Fish, Sea creatures, and the birds of the air
Animals and mankind
God rested

Jewish prophecy states the Messiah will come into this dark world as a light to the nations (Isaiah 9:2; 49:6). The New Testament identifies Jesus as the light to fulfill the Jewish prophecy (Luke 2:32, John 1:4-9; 8:12; 9:5).

Image by Pixabay

Jesus arrived in a dark time for God’s people, as a reemergence of God’s light in this dark world. Our Lord didn’t just come to save the lost, but even the sheep of God’s flock who were lost in this darkness (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:24).

Our Rabbi sent His disciples out to be the light in this dark kingdom, not to rule it (Matthew 5:14-16; 10:5-8, Luke 10:1-9). He taught His followers that darkness cannot overcome light and warned His followers not to walk in darkness anymore (John 1:5; 8:12).

Sleep

In other news today, scientists revealed that light has a negative effect on our hearts when we sleep at night. Light is a powerful stimulant that can affect everything it touches. That is why many people have a hard time sleeping during the day.

Image by Pixabay

Science has proven the negative effects of blue light from screens on the brain at night. Light, when used appropriately, has many good uses:

Vision
Guides
Warms
Exposes
Comforts

As the days get shorter until December, there will be less light and colder days. Many people like me suffer from S.A.D. I don’t think it is a coincidence that early morning light has so many benefits on our bodies and brains.

As the late Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.” If conservatives really are God’s people, then we must be the ‘ôr*!*

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