Light is Life

I recently saw a Windex commercial whose catch phrase was “Light is Life.”  It caused me to think about the difference between light and darkness.  The definition of darkness is the absence of light--wickedness, evil, unhappiness, distress, gloom, and secrecy.  Light, however, is quite the opposite.  Light stimulates sight and makes things visible.  Light illuminates.  Light shines through truth.

As young girls, my sister and I were often scared of the dark.  I remember my mom taking us to the doors at night to show us they were locked.  Darkness often brings fear.  In darkness we cannot visually discern.  Our vision becomes obscure, which then affects our understanding of what reality is.  Walking in darkness will render us ineffective.  It leaves our testimony and witness null, void, invalid and of zero value.

Eph. 5:6-21 sheds a spotlight on this subject.  Paul is admonishing us to “walk as children of the light.”  Before we came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we “were darkness.”  Now that we are born again Paul asks, “What communion has light with darkness?” 

It is impossible to be in darkness and light at the same time.  Light produces “goodness” (Gal. 5:22) and goodness is “love in action,” which then produces righteousness.

Dr. Wiersbe defines righteousness as “rightness of character before God and rightness of actions before men.” 

Jesus had a lot to say about darkness and light: “Everyone that does evil things hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:20-21)

To “walk as children of light” means our lives will be illuminated (lit up) by the Holy Spirit.  We are going to shine!  Living before God, not hiding anything, our lives then become distinctive, having clarity, transparency, sharpness and purity.  Walking as “children of the light” is an action.  By our character and conduct the world will see God, which is light, or Satan and sin, which is darkness.  Light reveals God and truth.  Darkness reveals Satan and sin.  Light produces fruit and growth.  Darkness produces sin and decay.

Jesus said in John 12:46, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

In Luke 11:33-36 Jesus says, “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.  Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore, be careful lest the light in you be darkness.  If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

When we trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior, our eyes were opened, the light shined in, and we became “children of light.”

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”(John 8:12)

“Dear Jesus, may the light of the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ shine not only on us but also through us, that those in our families, work places, neighborhoods might know You and the power of your salvation.  Thank You, Jesus, for shining on us!”

SHINE JESUS SHINE!
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Jesus Christ will shine on you.”  (Eph. 5:14)