Living in the Light

Last Sunday we meditated on Jesus’ word, “You are the light of the world”(Matt 5:14). I made the point that God himself is the primary light in all reality (1 John 3:5), and we’re secondary lights reflecting his radiance (just asthe moon reflects the sun’s light).The more I ponder the truth that God shines the light of his glory into our world, the more I shudder at what it would be like to live in darkness. Still, that’s how it is for all who turn away from the Lord: “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom 1:21). “The light has come intothe world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:19-20). And yet, when we say “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all” (1John 1:5), the question follows: just what does it mean to experience God’s light? Consider various Scriptures:  “Your word is a light to my path” (Ps 119:105) — so God helps us take wise steps and make right decisions as we follow the Bible. To learn and follow what Scripture teaches is to live in the light (Ps 119:130). But taking God’s Word lightly is to dwell in darkness. Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor 4:4)—so God’s light illumines “the gospel,” allowing us to recognize that Christ is the very presence of our glorious God. And yet the Enemy seeks to cover our eyes—pray for protection! The Messiah gives “light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79)—so to receive God’s light is to be delivered from a shadowy, dying existence, and to be led on a pathway of ultimate peace with God. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Ps 27:1)—so experiencing God’s “light” is to receive and revel in his saving grace. And that, in turn, is God’s path for us into fearless living.