Be The Light!

It is much easier to walk when it is light.  Things become clearer when we are able to see.  If we carry light with us, then we can see as long as we carry the light.  If we put it down and allow ourselves to become distant from it, however, things become dark.   

If we are in a room with light, then all we have to do is leave the room to move towards the darkness.  But if we are the light, then we bring the light with us wherever we go.  

Looking at Eph. 5, I don’t remember thinking about Paul’s statement that in Christ we are “the light.”  We often think of ourselves as being in the light when we are with Christ, and the call to live as children of the light.  But in verse 8, it says that “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”  Not that we were in the darkness and now are in the light, but that we were darkness and now are light.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” 

Eph. 5:8 CSB

This follows up verse 1, where we are called to be imitators of God.  Spurgeon points out that “We must not be satisfied with feeding the soul by meditation but rise from the banquet and use the strength we have gained.  Sitting at the feel of Jesus must be succeeded by following in the footsteps of Jesus.”  

“We must not be satisfied with feeding the soul by meditation but rise from the banquet and use the strength we have gained.  Sitting at the feel of Jesus must be succeeded by following in the footsteps of Jesus.”

Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Study Bible, Holman Bible Publishers (Nashville, TN), p. 1591

We go on to read about what the “light” looks like.  The “fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth. (vs. 9)”  Light does not participate with darkness, in fact, light and darkness cannot coexist, for darkness is the absence of light. 

Light and darkness cannot coexist, for darkness is the absence of light

If we “are” the light, and not simply living “in” the light, then it should change the way we view ourselves in Christ.  When we choose to do things that require us to be in the dark, we are not just walking away from Christ, but removing Him from us.  What a horrid thought!

My desire is to be the light, not just live in the light.  I don’t just want to think of Christ as Someone who is walking alongside me, but my desire is to become more and more aware of the fact that Christ lives IN ME! And if He lives in me, then I am never in the dark! 

Let us not only bask in the light of Christ, but become the light of Christ through the indwelling on the Holy Spirit.  And may this light be seen by all those around us.  In Jesus Name…