Darkness and Light
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
There are times when a Bible verse jumps off the page and begs me to look at it more carefully. I am well aware of the darkness where I once dwelt but I never considered the fact that I was that darkness. It was all around me but when people saw me or hung out with me, was I shadowy and bleak like a winter’s night? Now that, dear friends, is a hard pill to swallow.
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present. Francis Bacon
This man was not a Christian but his statement is steeped in truth! Liken this to being in constant pain and then having one restful, pain-free night. The gratitude that is felt is beyond words. In the same way, we can never know Light without first being in the darkness. Being born into a sinful world makes it easy to stay in the sin, but God calls us to fight our way out of this black hole and into His marvelous Light.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
You may need to read this a couple of times and think about it for a few minutes. Isn’t this what we are experiencing in the world today. Some of the social and political disputes and observed violence are a direct result of darkness trying to drive out darkness. It is not working! A sinful heart cannot fix someone else’s sin.
Light has to be stronger than the darkness to change anything. “And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness cannot overcome it!” John 1:5. So there is still hope.
How do we live as children of Light? Look around! There must be someone who needs encouragement. What would happen if you took it to the next level and called them just to chat or even went to visit a shut in? The little things we can do (without a lot of effort) allow us to share some Light. Imagine if we actually talked to someone about Jesus!
I do not believe that the last part of this verse is just a suggestion! We are to live as children of light. From the youngest to the oldest, we have a full-time job to do. Our reward? Well, eternity in the delightful presence of Jesus, of course.
Father, thank You for being my Light. Please teach me to be a shining light in this crazy, mixed- up world; one that never goes out. AMEN.