Out of Darkness into Light

“Ye are the light of the world: a city situated on the top of a mountain cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but upon the lamp-stand, and it shines for all who are in the house.”

Matthew 5:14-15

 The Bible says in 1 John 1:5, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” The Bible calls the wrong we do darkness; our sinfulness is a spiritual darkness. The Apostle John writes that God is light and in Him, there is no darkness at all. God is light. He is the opposite of darkness and sinfulness.

 The second of Jesus’s “I am” statements can be found in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” The Lord Jesus Christ is the only source of true spiritual light. All who follow Him will not walk in spiritual darkness. The light that Christ offers is the light of eternal life.

 In John 3:19 Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” The truth has come, the Lord Jesus Christ, but men and women love the darkness rather than His light. Why? Because Christ and His Gospel shine a light on the wickedness of our hearts. His light exposes us for who we really are, with God there are no secrets. The Gospel bears witness to the true condition of the nature of mankind. The Gospel brings our sinful deeds into the open and in the fullness of the light of Christ. We ought to be ashamed of our wickedness and sinfulness. Sadly, many hide in the darkness of the world and seek not the light.

 As Christians, we ought to reject the things of the flesh, the things that are contrary to godliness. Search your heart is there any sin abiding where righteousness should reside? If so, confess that to the Lord and ask him to replace your imperfections with the example of Christ. May this be so that Christ’s light may shine in the world? Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”