Children of Light

“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10 (NASB)

There is a dramatic difference between darkness and light. We see it in the simple flick of a switch at night. All around us is bright and visible one second and hidden from view the next. Until our eyes adjust, we’re hard pressed to see even our hand in front of our face. But flick that switch on and the scene changes instantaneously again.

When Jesus walked the earth, He brought that kind of dramatic change. He was the light that had come into the world. Matthew 4:16 says, “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” One might think that the people would be thankful for the light, that they would be drawn to it, but Jesus said, “men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

Darkness is that realm that exists apart from God. It is the realm governed by the devil and his angels. As we covered earlier, we all walked under the enemy’s influence before we were saved (Ephesians 2:2). “We too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest” (2:3). The deeds of darkness pervade our culture, consisting of all manner of sexual immorality, impurity, murder, greediness, idolatry, lying, stealing, and anything else that’s contrary to the will of God.

Thankfully, we were saved not only from eternal punishment but also from that realm of darkness. “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). First Peter 2:9 provides this awesome insight: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Jesus Himself shared this truth in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

This week’s verses from Ephesians echo Jesus’ sentiment. They let us know that we were formerly darkness, but now we are “light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8). But as the apostle Paul keeps reiterating in this book, we have to walk in it. We have to know what it means to walk in the light. We have to learn “what is pleasing to the Lord” (5:10). He tells us what that will look like. It will consist “in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (5:9).

Walking as children of light means walking in holiness and obedience to God. Walking in the light means walking with discernment, understanding the will of God, recognizing truth from error. Walking in the light means walking a narrow path. You won’t find many walking with you, for most in the world are walking in darkness. But remember—there is a dramatic contrast between darkness and light. A mere pinpoint of light can make a huge difference. If you are walking as a child of light, people are sure to notice and you can make an impact for the kingdom of God. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me out of darkness into the marvelous light. And now that I’m in the light, I pray that You will help me to walk as a child of light. Rid me of the ways of darkness and cause me to walk fully in the ways of the kingdom. Teach me what is pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.