CHILDREN OF LIGHT (2)

“For you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. WALK as CHILDREN of LIGHT” – Ephesians 5:8

Believers in Christ, having been redeemed from darkness into light, are expected to WALK as CHILDREN of LIGHT: “For you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. WALK as CHILDREN of LIGHT” (Eph.5:8). We can no longer live as if we were still in Adam and approve of sin; rather, we must walk in the light of Christ (1Jh.1:7). We must expect others who profess to be in the light to walk in the light as well, exhibiting goodness, righteousness, and truth (v.9). Walking in the Light does not equate sinless perfection, but a desire to live consistently with God’s law, which manifests in repentance, disapproval of sin and ungodliness, and a striving after holiness. These listed virtues – goodness, righteousness, and truth – are examples of what are elsewhere referred to as the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-24).

These virtues, along with qualities such as love, joy, patience, and self-control, are the marks of the true Christian. To become children of light means to reject the power of the adversary and choose daily to follow the Light of Christ. From the New Testament writings of Paul we read: “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (1The.5: 5-8).

Let’s remember that the first words the Bible records as coming from the mouth of God are, “Let there be light.” (Gen.1:3). From the very beginning, wherever God was, there was light. Indeed, the word ‘Light’ is used most often in the book of Genesis! Scripture often uses Light as a symbol of the saving presence of God in a fallen world, with darkness being used as a symbol of sin or the absence of God. Light is the brightness that enables sight in the darkness.

We can always query the various actions and influences we’re exposed to in the world with this penetrating question: “Do I see any light in this”? Simply by being on guard and using this somewhat obvious filter, we can learn to differentiate between what is light and what is dark – between things that inspire us and bring us closer to the Spirit and things that do not. To understand light means to understand the nature and divine character of the Saviour Himself. He unequivocally declared, “I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Jh.8:12). As we follow the Saviour and embrace the Light, we manifest as His children!