“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.” Ephesians 5:8
When I’m up to it and the weather is nice, I like to ride my bike to the gym. Today was one of those days. I didn’t expect it to be warm enough, but the sun was shining which made the air pleasant. I had dressed for cooler weather, so I became a little warm as I rode. While at the gym, I was concerned that I might get too warm on the way home. However, while I was there, a heavy cloud cover rolled in and the ride home was actually a little cooler than I like. What a difference a little sunshine can make and what a difference various forms of light make in our lives. Consider how much comfort that a night light provides to children or how difficult it can be avoiding furniture while walking through a room in the dark. Then there is the darkness of trials and illness. Bitterness, sorrow and stress seem to be more overwhelming at night. Similarly, a flare of one’s symptoms always seems harsher at night than in the light of day. Finally, our souls are more restless when we do not feel the light of God shining into them. We have been called to be children of light. Accordingly, consider the light of God as it applies to the following conditions: sinfulness, discipline of God, trials, and hopelessness.
Repeatedly throughout scripture, the state of depravity is compared to darkness while the state of grace is compared to living in the light. With cultural departure from the truth of scripture, the promotion of “relative truth”, and encouragement to allow our feelings to dictate our beliefs and actions, the world seems to be getting darker and darker. John 3:19 applies as much now as it did when Christ first made this proclamation. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” For those of us that have come to know Christ as our savior, we have received the light of God’s truth. However, we are called to remain in the world with purpose. As Christians, we are commanded to: walk in the light or maintain the light of God’s truth in our lives (Luke 11:34-35, Ephesians 5:7-14, and 1 John 1:5-9); let our lights shine into the world (Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 5:16, and Acts 13:47); and to proclaim the light (Matthew 10:27 and 1 Peter 2:9). Sometimes that seems like a tall order for us, but we must remember that all we do is through the strength of Christ who sustains us. Further, He has promised that we will always have the Light (John 8:12) and that God’s plans can’t be thwarted (Isaiah 14:27). Our job is to point others to God by living obediently, speaking the truth of God’s word in love and enduring; the end result is in God’s hands.
Christ warns us that sin cannot be contained. In Luke 12:2 He tells us: “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Further, Ephesians 5:13 tells us: “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.” The light of God’s truth and the work of the Holy Spirit will reveal sin. For those who do not believe in Christ (those who “walk in darkness”), it leads to judgement. However, for those who believe unto salvation, there is a loving purpose to this revelation. Whether it is through an event (severe trial as in the case of Israel’s captivity or being caught in a sinful act), the conviction of the Holy Spirit (directly or through scripture), or a godly friend, God’s intent is not punitive but rather to restore us to a right relationship with Him.
As children of the light, we are called to be self-controlled. Ephesians 5:6-21 clearly calls us to a life of discipline, warns us to avoid deeds “of darkness” and to be careful how we walk. Romans 13:12-14 reminds us: “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Again, we do this by relying on the strength of the Lord, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, scripture (the lamp to our feet and light to our path) and the fellowship of believers. Despite how it may feel at times, we are never alone in this endeavor. Discipline is rewarded well not only for eternity, but also through a greater quality of living in this life.
No matter how mature we are in our faith, it is not uncommon to feel hopeless at times. It may be the weight of sin, the exhaustion of enduring one or more trials, or merely fatigue as we seek to carry out the tasks to which God calls us. Whether we believe that we will never measure up or that we just don’t have the strength to continue, we must look to the light of Christ for encouragement. Personally, I often look to the Psalms for hope and read them one after another until my spirit lifts. However, I’ve recently read Lamentations which, even in the light of the total destruction of Israel, provides a beautiful and eloquent call to hope no matter how unbearable our circumstances may be. “Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I have hope in Him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.” (3:19-26) Our hope lies not in our talents or the resources that we can muster, but rests solely in God, His character, His strength and His promises.
Walking as children of the light is a commission to a better way of living. It may not be easy, but it is blessed (Psalm 89:15). It spares us from eternal death and stumbling in sin (Psalm 56:13). It affords us adoption as sons and daughters of God (John 12:35-36). It provides fellowship and purification (1 John 1:7). It gives us hope (Romans 5:4). As children of the light, we have nothing to fear for God is our stronghold (Psalm 27:1).
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Will