I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about “living in the light.” You have to admit, it sounds like a positive way to live. I would think that most people would desire to live in the light when the alternative is to live in darkness. Maybe you have some questions regarding this statement, like: “What does the word “light” refer to?” or “What does it mean to ‘Live in the Light’?” Let’s explore these questions and look at seven ways in which you can live in the light and forego the darkness in your life.
What Does the Word “Light” Refer to?
When you hear about light and darkness, immediately you think about day and night. The sun provides light during the day, while at night when the sun goes down, darkness appears. Perhaps it’s dark when you walk into a room, so you turn on the light in order to see. While these things are certainly true, the light and darkness that I am referring to is much different than the light and darkness we think about in our every day lives.
What I am referring to is Biblical light and darkness which do not mean the same thing as they do in our day-to-day lives. In Christian culture, “living in the light” often refers to loving others, being kind, and living in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. While living the standards I just mentioned should be the desire of all Christians, living in the light includes even more than those things.
Old Testament References to the Light
In the Old Testament we see only a few verses that reference walking in the light:
- Psalm 56:13 – “For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?”
- Psalm 89:15 – “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.”
- Isaiah 2:5 – “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
In these Old Testament references we see that the light refers to the Light of the Lord. So, we can definitely say that the light, in a Biblical sense, refers to God. When we turn to the New Testament for examples of the light, we get an even bigger picture.
New Testament References to the Light
In the New Testament, we see additional perspectives to “the light.”
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Here we learn that there is a light within all of us. We are to let that light shine so that others can see it, which glorifies God. Now look at 1 John 1:5 which says: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” The Apostle John tells us here that GOD Himself, is light.
To provide even more insight into the light, Jesus says this in John 8:12:“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” This statement begs the question: if someone is not a follower of Jesus, can that person actually live in the light? The short answer, according to the Bible, is “NO.” You see, Jesus says that IF you follow Him, you will not walk in darkness. In order to fully understand the Biblical meaning of the “light,” we have to explore the meaning of “darkness.”
What Does the Word “Darkness” Refer to?
Simply put, “darkness” is the absence of light. What this means for us is that if Jesus is the “Light of the World,” without Him in our lives, we are living in darkness. Now, this is an elementary conclusion to make, but more can be found when searching the scriptures.
In Ephesians 5:8-9, the Apostle Paul addresses light and darkness: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).” Before Jesus comes into our hearts, we are considered “darkness.” Notice that Paul doesn’t say that we were once IN THE darkness, but rather he says that we WERE darkness. In addition, Paul also tells us in these verses what constitutes light: goodness, righteousness and truth. So, if God (Jesus) is the Light, which refers to everything relative to goodness, etc. then anything that is not of God implies that those things are of darkness. These things include sin, lies, confusion and wickedness.
You see, we are considered darkness because without the light of Jesus, we are spiritually blind to the truth of God and His glory. While we are darkness, we are incapable of understanding our need for a Savior. In darkness, we believe that we are good enough, strong enough and capable enough to live on our own. The darkness keeps us from understanding God’s holy nature and from seeing that we are lost without Him. Ask yourself: would you rather live in perpetual light or perpetual darkness?
Why Do People Choose Darkness?
The first thing that we have to understand is that as humans, we are born into darkness. This means that we are born with a sin nature; and sin is darkness. (See “45 Shrewd Words that Changed the Course of Humanity” to learn more about our sin nature). Mankind is inherently attracted to things that are in direct opposition to the things of God. That is to say that our nature before Jesus is drawn to the darkness. That same old nature shows no interest in what is right or in learning the truth. Our sin nature rejects the standards of God.
People choose darkness for different reasons. First of all, it’s comfortable. Sin is what our nature is used to and longs for. Living without acknowledging that there are consequences of sin makes it easy to do things that we know are wrong. Knowing that there is no one to answer to makes it much easier to do these things we shouldn’t do.
Secondly, many people believe the lies they’ve been told. One dangerous lie is that if you are a good person, you’ll make it to heaven. Sadly, that’s not what the Bible teaches. Romans 3:10 tells us that “there is none righteous, no, not one” and Romans 3:23 emphasizes verse 10 by saying: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Finally, Romans 6:23a sums up the result of sin by saying this: “For the wages of sin is death…” (we’ll discuss the second half of verse 23 later in this article). Being wrapped up in sin will lead to death – not death as we know it, per se, but death as in being headed for hell.
Lastly, people avoid the light and cling to darkness because they don’t understand what’s at stake. If people acknowledge that they are sinful (in darkness), then they have to make a change in order to get right with God (living in the light). John 1:5 tells us that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” If you are walking in darkness, it is hard to see what is available in the light.
How to Live in the Light
The first step to living in the light is to acknowledge that you are a sinner (we all are!). When you realize that you will never meet God’s standards on your own, you begin to understand your need for a Savior. Understand, God didn’t leave us here alone to die in our sin. He sent Jesus Christ to take away our sin so that we can live in freedom FROM sin. (To learn more about what Jesus did for you and where you will spend eternity click here).
7 Easy Ways to Live in the Light Everyday
If you are a Christian, there are many ways to live in the light. Here are seven ways to do so:
- Pray. Prayer should be part of your daily routine. Set time aside each day to communicate with God. Prayer gives us the opportunity to express how grateful we are for all that He does for us. In addition, prayer is the time to seek the Lord’s guidance and lay our anxieties and worries at His feet.
- Open the Bible. Spend time reading and studying God’s Word. One of the ways the Lord speaks to us is through His Word. It is full of truth, encouragement and wisdom that will guide you each day on your the best decisions to make and actions to take.
- Be Thankful. Maintain a heart of gratitude, especially where God is concerned. Don’t forget to thank Him for everything He does for you, starting with waking you up in the morning. Giving thanks first thing in the morning will assist in maintaining a grateful and thankful attitude all day.
- Seek Forgiveness. Christians are saved by grace, but we all fall short. When you do, seek forgiveness immediately, confess and repent of the things that you’ve done. God’s mercies are new every morning and He never runs out of grace.
- Love Others. There is no greater way to honor God than to love others. Yes, even those who seem to be unlovable! Be kind to everyone. Loving others is the perfect way for the light of Jesus to be poured out onto others.
- Serve Others. Whatever you do for others, do it as if you are doing it for the Lord. Search out opportunities to serve in your community, your church or local charity organizations. Help your neighbors when you can. When you serve others, you are demonstrating God’s love and shining His light.
- Share Your Faith. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to share with others about the love of Jesus and what He did for all of us on the cross. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ and to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Remember, the only thing better than going to Heaven is to take someone with you!
Previously I mentioned Romans 6:23a which says: “For the wages of sin is death…” Now, the second half of that verse is “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Within every Christian is the light of Jesus Christ. We are guaranteed eternal life through His death and resurrection. Starting today, begin to share that light with others and tell them about the gift of eternal life that is found in Jesus.
Blessings,
Amy
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In