SHINING EVER BRIGHTER IN DESTINY

“But the PATH of the JUST is as the shining sun, that SHINES EVER BRIGHTER unto the perfect day” – Proverbs 4:18

To make progress in life is to SHINE EVER BRIGHTER IN DESTINY: “But the path of the just is as the shining sun, that SHINES EVER BRIGHTER unto the perfect day” (Psa.4:18). The path of the godly person is like a glorious sunrise leading up to the dazzling brilliance of the Celestial City! Beginning as an almost imperceptible ray over the horizon, it increases in brightness and intensity until the full blazing glory of it reigns over the day! It begins as the first ray of sunlight over the horizon that dispels the darkness of the night. Then the sun shines brighter and brighter until the perfect day – the fullness of day, noon day, the fully established day – no more dawning but full, brilliant daylight! The path of the just is a pathway of light. In this straight and narrow pathway, light increases day by day, closer and closer to glory. Ever brighter light implies maturity, increasing discernment and growing wisdom.

Our light does not go dimmer, but shines ever brighter. What does “Light” signify to the believer’s destiny?

Light represents truth, righteousness, and holiness. Believers are to walk in the light: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph.5:8). Light and darkness represent the realm of evil and the realm of holiness. We WERE darkness, but salvation changed us! NOW, we are LIGHT in the Lord because of our union with Christ. Our position in the light brings the responsibility to WALK in light! Our walk, life, speech, thoughts, attitudes should all be in harmony with truth and holiness, and purity. This is the path of the just – a path of light. JESUS is the Light: “…I am the LIGHT of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jh.8:12). Those who follow Christ are following the way of truth, holiness, and purity! Whoever is not walking in the light has no fellowship with God (1Jh.1:7).

Light signifies Illumination: the path of the just is well illuminated, branded by vision, wisdom and understanding, free from stumbling. Whereas, the path of the wicked is dark and they don’t know where they are going, and thus, they stumble (Pro.4:19). They walk in the darkness of ignorance, error, and sin. Those who walk in the night stumble: “But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him” (Jh.11:10). Not so with the path of the just: “If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world” (Jh.11:9). Walking in a well-lit path is the way of safety, the way of wisdom and light which by far exceeds the way of darkness (Ecc.2:13). God’s Word illuminates our way (Psa.119:105). Therefore, forsaking His Word is forsaking the light, wisdom, and favour of God!

Growing in the Word, we increase in light: “We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2Pet.1:19). We are to increase in the knowledge of Christ – filled with God’s fullness, reaching forward to those things which are ahead, pressing “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phi.3: 13-14). Walking in the  light, we become a light to others – a testimony for the Lord Jesus, who says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt.5:16). We are to “shine as lights in the world” (Phil.2:15b). That is God’s purpose for us living in this dark world!

Walking in the light, our pathway increases in light, and our capacity to shine increases! With every step along this pathway our testimony radiates with God’s love, grace, holiness, and purity. Christ is our Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow!