Walk as children of light. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. All things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. (Ephesians 5:8, 11, 13)
When we walk in darkness, we bump into things we would normally avoid in the light.
As I got ready for work in the pre-dawn darkness, I stumbled around the bedroom not wanting to turn on any lights to disturb my sleeping wife. I bumped into the dresser, felt for the doorway, then brushed my feet along the carpet in search of the stairs. I knew where they were all located, but the darkness disoriented me. It was then God whispered the importance of walking in His light.
Let Your Light Shine
Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). As His followers, who walk according to His Word, we walk in the light as children of His light (Ephesians 5:8) letting His light shine through us (Matthew 5:16). His light has no fellowship (intimate compatibility) with darkness (1 John 1:5-6). Light and darkness cannot coexist simultaneously.
Darkness is incompatible with light. It frightens with the unknown and unseen. But we walk by faith, not by sight. It threatens, but must leave the presence of light. Darkness fears light because light illuminates, light exposes, light liberates, light brightens. Light encourages stumbling feet to step forward confidently. Even death is but a shadow fleeing from the glorious light of Christ’s resurrection.
We were never meant for the dark. However, if we dim or cover our light with doubt, fear, or sinful habits, our flame flickers and darkness hovers. Darkness doesn’t respect our light; when we don’t shine, it exists. If we grow dim, shadows creep in. Then, in our self-imposed absence of light, we stumble and bump into avoidable things, places, and people.
Where light shines, the dark must flee. When the lights go on, darkness leaves the room. It isn’t defeated—it simply lurks in the shadows waiting for the lights to dim. But it cannot overpower light. We shine our light to dispel the dark. Where we go the world should be a brighter place.
So turn on the light of God’s Word! Let it shine everywhere you go! Keep your candle burning! Fuel up your lamp! Saturate your world with heavenly light!
