Glowing in the Dark

John 1:5, "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." Or maybe if we look at  John 8:12, "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." And again in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Let Your Light Shine

Christians were made to glow in the dark. How awesome is that! There are many Scriptures about our light shining in the darkness, or about God being the Light. But when I stop and think about how God is Light and His light is IN us, it takes my breath away because we are His vessel to shine His light into a world full of darkness! He trusts us that much because we have accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and we walk with Him in the Light! There is darkness all around us, encompassing this world in a way that I haven't seen in a very long time. It's in our workplaces, in our homes, in our streets, in our governments, in our schools, in our businesses, in our churches. You can't escape it really. Our children are bombarded with images, sounds, and teachings of it. It's blatant and it's subliminal. In order to prevent exposure to the darkness and evil around us, we'd have to live in complete silence and live in a room where it's void of any media, computer, television, radio. This, my dear readers, seems far fetched, but in reality, that's what would HAVE to happen for us to never be exposed to anything other than light. This is not something we can attain. It's not a reality.

The definition of darkness is simply "an absence of light." Since it says in 1 John 1:5 that "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." then it's only natural that the physical creation began with the displacement of darkness: Genesis 1:2-5, tells us, "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. v3) Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. v4) And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. v5) God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." So as far back as Creation, darkness was in existence. God saw that Light was needed so it could shine brightly into the darkness. Notice how God saw Light as good but He didn't mention that darkness was "good?" Notice, too, that God DIVIDED the Light from the darkness? Since the Lord God is Light and Satan and evil is the darkness, it only makes sense! He divided the Light and darkness spiritually as well by His Son Jesus Christ! Jesus is LIGHT and everything else outside of Him is darkness! Darkness is the unbelievers; Light is the believers. Darkness is sins; Light is purity. Darkness is lies; Light is TRUTH. Darkness is ignorance; Light is wisdom. Darkness is rebellion; Light is obedience. I think you can see the polar opposites within those examples and each one is true, even today. So in 1 John 1:6, it then tells us, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." Walking in darkness in this context doesn't mean when we slip and fall and repent. This is talking about literally WALKING in the darkness, becoming the darkness, and literally to live, abide, dwell, remain, and/or continue in the darkness. This is a very serious matter and God doesn't take to it lightly.

Darkness in that verse means spiritual darkness which consists of everything that is NOT of God, everything that is rebellion towards God. Everything that is not encompassing the greatness of the Light but rather, encompassing all that is dark, fleshly, selfish, self-absorbed. Otherwise, everything that is NOT holy, NOT pure and NOT Truth. So now let's read 1 John 1:5-6 together as a whole and see what it 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. v6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."  We know that if we don't live by the Truth, as it is proclaimed and written, we'll not be able to come to "know the truth" as evidenced in John 8:32, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." We also know that we won't be set free by the Truth, who is Jesus Christ and the Word of God. John 8:36, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." and again in John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Again in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." Truth will not be in us or reside in us, as we are told in 1 John 2:4, "He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 

So then if the Truth isn't in us, then neither is the Spirit of God (of Jesus and the Father), nor then are we in Him. Basically, we aren't in the Light, but rather, we're walking in the darkness. There is not one tiny speck of darkness in God or His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. So if we are IN Him, and He IN us, how can we abide in any kind of darkness or, how can any darkness abide in us? It’s impossible. Sure, we can glance back over our shoulders, into the past, and peer in at the darkness, because it's always trying to tempt us or catch us off guard, or reel us back IN, but to walk back into it, to BE in it, to BECOME it again, we most certainly have made the conscious choice to turn from Jesus. And yes, when we begin to "live and dwell" in our chosen sin(s) or to "live and dwell" in our bad choices allowing our flesh to rule over God, then we have CHOSEN to TURN from Jesus Christ! 1 John 1:8, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." This is what one must do in order to make a choice to turn from Jesus, is to convince oneself that one has no sin. And how one does that is to say they are "forgiven" and can't lose salvation so there is no need to repent. The human condition wants what it wants and will lie to themselves in order to justify it and have it. Sad, but true. Our Father God sees only His Son when He looks at us because we have been covered in the Blood and washed clean. That part is true. This is true for born again Christ believers. We still must repent and genuinely be convicted of the sins we do fall into, then we must TURN from them, NOT continue to live IN them! We must genuinely RUN back to Jesus!!! Do not stop! He'll forgive those who are truly contrite for having broken the holy covenant of the Spirit and who confess their sins, 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  But if the old ways are not gone, if the old ways are still a desire above living in the truth of God, then there really isn't a transformation, for a new creation in God’s eyes means a clean creation.

I know once you have been truly born again, and have been transformed, your salvation is sealed. However, when you CHOOSE to consciously walk in the darkness, to fulfill YOUR desires, knowing you are doing a disservice to Jesus Christ, and you continue in your ways, then was there really a transformation to begin with? Walking in the darkness is different than falling into sin, slipping up and making a mistake. None is perfect EXCEPT Jesus Christ! But, as a follower, and a believer of not only Jesus Christ, but God's inerrant Word, we mustn't begin to LIVE in darkness, nor to BE in the darkness. Every single day is a regeneration, is a renewal. But if we live in the darkness, fellowship with the darkness and become the darkness, we aren't renewing anything and we definitely can't be regenerated if we aren't willing to surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit who is always trying to convict us of what sins we are committing. If we’ve been purified, and renewed, then we will have a desire to have fellowship with other purified, renewed, cleansed, and cleaned individuals, as well as with God Himself. 1 John 1:3, "that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."  If we don't desire to have fellowship with the Light and those who reside in the light, then there's only one other choice we have: to fellowship with the darkness and those who reside in the dark. Please read this next set of Scriptures carefully as it is packed with powerful words!

2 Corinthians 6:14-17, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? v15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? v16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. v17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

Many people mistakenly take that to mean ONLY for the marriage bed. It is not just that. This needs to be read in the context of the chapter. But it's powerful. I've seen in my own life, how being friends with unbelievers influenced my spirit and not in a good way. I've seen how important it is to be among unbelievers but not necessarily be friends WITH them. I've learned the hard way that fellow-shipping with the likeness of righteousness and Jesus is the best fellowship there is! It's not easy these days to find evenly yoked people to fellowship with but they're out there. Don't be hasty in your pursuit of "happiness" if they aren't readily within your reach because the Lord just may have something else in store for you! His plans are not your plans. His thoughts are not your thoughts. So don't push Him or test Him. There's so much to be found n the Light that's so much better than anything found in the darkness and  sadly, most people love the darkness more than the light. In fact, they even hate the light and will choose not to even step into it! Why? Because that's when their sins and evil proclivities will be made known. If they step into the Light, all the darkness will be revealed and uncovered. Light exposes the evil deeds. John 3:19-20, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." Truth ALWAYS sets us free from the darkness so that we may walk in the light. Jesus said He is the TRUTH, THE WAY and THE LIFE! No other way!!!

So if we are true born-again Christ believers with the Light of Jesus Christ in us, and we are sent into the darkened world to shine our lights, then we are simply glowing in the dark! Light shines the brightest when it's the darkest and those who reside in the dark need it the most! Revelation 21:23, "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light." Every corner we turn, every building we enter, every day that we face, we will encounter darkness. This is part of the world that we can't escape. However, we can choose to participate in it or choose to turn FROM it and just be the Light the Lord called us to be! The choice to live in the darkness will continue to pull you further and further away from the Light. Remember, Christians aren't part of the world but we live in it. We don't have to allow the darkness to dampen and stamp out our Light by participating in its unfruitful works and fellowshipping with it. I choose to glow in the dark! Being the Light in a dark place doesn't always mean loudly proclaiming the gospel. It could mean showing the "world" that we are not part of it, by walking away from a tasteless joke, giving a testimony of how Jesus did something amazing in our lives, by doing the right thing in front of those who are doing wrong. There are many ways to shine the Light of Jesus Christ in a darkened place! God gives us plenty of opportunities to shine His Light, to show the world His love. It's much easier to see those opportunities when you're not walking in the darkness yourself!

There's Joy in the Light

I had an opportunity to do just that not long ago. I went next door on my lunch break to look around and get out of the office setting. There were more people in line that day than normal and I could see the young girl was a little flustered. I also could see some of the customers in line were growing frustrated at there being only one cashier. No fault of the young girl but people are people. I began to engage a customer in a conversation to alleviate some of her frustration and get her mind off of the "wait." As we began to talk, the customer that the cashier was helping snapped at her. I could see all the joy drain from her smile, and her face saddened. The lady I was conversing with made some comment that wasn't very nice and I politely said, "I understand how frustrated you are having to wait, but it's not her fault she is alone and from what I can see, she is doing an amazing job with what she has to work with." The lady sort of put her head down, shook her head a little in agreement, and then I said, "You know, we never know the battles that others are having in their lives. It just pays to be kind to everyone because behind her smile, could be plenty of tears and she's doing her very best at such a young age. I commend her for even working because many young people her age wouldn't dream of it!" That was all it took and as she was getting her things checked out, she thanked me, smiled at me and was extremely pleasant to the cashier. When it was my turn, the cashier heard part of the conversation, I told her she was doing a great job and not to let others discourage her because everyone has a story behind the eyes we look into. She beamed with the joy that I first saw in her eyes before the stress of doing her job alone was giving her! I had a choice. I could either complain along WITH everyone, or I could choose to look on the bright side, let the Light shine through and be kind. I chose the latter.

I've heard so many arguments about how Christians have to be part of the world, sometimes living in the world, to witness to the world. Unfortunately, those same people get completely lost BECOMING the world, having become so much like the world in its attitudes and behaviors that there are no appreciable differences between them and worldly people any longer. These same people emphasize Paul’s comments about becoming all things to all men but I find them often erring by playing down specific biblical truths that are often found to be offensive to worldly people, such as sin and judgment. By doing this, they are inevitably compromising the gospel. And, they often have to dodge biblical standards of morality in order to become like the world in its sinful aspects. Becoming the world puts out the light that's in you and the very reason you are living IN the world and not supposed to BECOME it, is to shine your light in the darkness! It's hard to do when your light isn't anything more than an ember about to go out. This is not what we are to do! It's like a lot of churches today. They are trying to become the world to ATTRACT the world, which ultimately compromises the gospel in some form or fashion. Nobody can become as the world without getting some dirt on them. And worse, without getting their light put out. Then there are the extreme opposites. Other Christians seem to have over-emphasized their need to be completely separated from this evil world so they begin withdrawing from almost all contact with worldly people, worldly activities, and whatever they may think has a worldly appearance. This is a painful thing to see in my brothers and sisters. We are not to be friends, close personal friends with the world, but in order to witness to the world and to glow in the dark, we must be among them. For instance, at a staff meeting recently, we went to breakfast first. Well, during breakfast, I bowed my head and said my prayers. Someone watched me, saw me and yelled down to see if I was "Alright." I finished my prayers and proudly said, "I was saying my blessings for my food, so yes, I'm doing FINE!" I laughed and then I heard some muttering at the table behind me about what I said. Soon afterwards, I was respected for openly praying in a public place where many of these actions are frowned upon.

 Light pictures the knowledge of the truth that comes when God shines into our lives. As Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 4:6, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." There is a dramatic theme of light and darkness prominent throughout the Bible and it's hard to dismiss its meaning. Darkness symbolizes Satan’s evil domain and the sinful deeds of those who do not obey God. It's also a representation of the spiritual ignorance of those whose sin has blinded their eyes from the light of God’s truth! Ephesians 4:18, "having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;" and in 2 Corinthians 4:4, "whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." Light also pictures the holiness of God as we find in 1 John 1:5, "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." and also who dwells in unapproachable light as found in 1 Timothy 6:16, "who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen." So as believers, we are called to walk in the light just as He Himself is in the light, living with every area of our lives exposed to God. We are called to glow in the dark. To shine our Light in the darkest of places whether that be a testimony or a kind word to someone. I would much rather glow in the dark then to have my light put out!

So how do we walk as children of the Light and let our light shine? Paul doesn't say that we used to be in the darkness, whereas now we are in the light. But rather, he says that we used to be darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Being children of light implies that this profound change comes from God’s holy power in the new birth. It's an act of His creative power, His creative magnificence. Just as He did at first creating light out of darkness, He now has changed US from being darkness itself into being light in the Lord. See Paul tells us that we were spiritually blind and that we were formerly once darkness. We couldn't see God's glory or grace or Truth. We didn't have the ability or desire for such things. We didn't even sense our NEED for a Savior because of our lack of understanding. It was only when God saved us, through His Son Jesus Christ, that He opened the eyes of our understanding so we could see "the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." This is found specifically here in 2 Corinthians 4:6, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." SO BEING CHILDREN OF LIGHT, WE MUST WALK AS SUCH IN THE MIDST OF THIS DARK WORLD. We are not told to BE the world as we once were, we are told to walk amongst the darkness and to do so, means we have to be able to go to some of the places the unbelievers go, speak to the unbelievers and be able to witness to them. We can't seclude ourselves and we can't partake IN the world. Ephesians 5:7, "Therefore do not be partakers with them."

Please the Lord and Shine

Living to please the Lord is the fundamental difference between the believer and the unbeliever. So we have to learn what pleases the Lord through growing in understanding His Word, growing in a closer relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and by desiring a transformation and renewing of the mind. Many unbelievers say they are good, upright people. And outwardly, that may be so. They may be truthful or kind-hearted and helpful to those less fortunate. But, the heart doesn't lie and it's likely they do it all out of selfish motives, for their own self-respect, or even so others will think highly of them. However, only true born again Christ believers live to please the Savior. We have a personal relationship with the very One who snatched us out of a horrible, evil, darkened pit. From that alone, we start to evaluate everything that we do by this one simple question, "Does this please the Lord?" So as children of light in this darkened world, we are to expose the deeds of darkness. Light exposes evil deeds of darkness. In Ephesians 5:11-12, Paul adds, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret." We shouldn't be interested in hearing the latest gossip about a movie stars’ latest sexual sins, the boss's recent deceptive ways, or a host of other things the Lord finds unfruitful. We should be repulsed by such things, not wanting to partake in them! If your spirit doesn't feel repressed upon such tidings, then I'd ask that you pray and repent and turn from your ways! Instead of being interested in the latest sins in others, Paul tells us we should expose them. But what does he mean, actually?

Well, in essence, Paul seems to mean that it's primarily by our lives and secondarily by our words in which we expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness for what they really, truly are: disgraceful sin in God’s Holy presence. In Jesus' own words, He said in John 3:20-21, "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. v21)But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." In other words, it's by the obvious differences in how we live our lives that our lives will expose the sin of those that are engaging in the unfruitful deeds of darkness. That's a pretty big responsibility but it's one that is actually an honor to have! Ephesians 5:13, "But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light." In the last phrase, Paul seems to be arguing that light not only exposes the darkness, but also transforms one from the darkness into the light! (Or at least some of the time.) J. B. Phillips (The New Testament in Modern English [Geoffrey Bles], p. p. 407) paraphrased it, “It is even possible (after all, it happened with you!) for light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also.”  So you see, we can expose the deeds of the darkness by our own godly lives as we MAINTAIN proper distance and separation from the world. If we’re no different, as a Christian and Christ believer, in our thinking, attitudes, actions, words, and behaviors than the unbelievers who don't know Jesus, then we don't really have a message to give to them. So, if you're out there professing to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but you’re not walking in the light, you're not bearing a fruitful life, you're not conforming your life to His Word, and you're not any different than the darkness, then please, I beg you, don't let unbelievers know that you claim to be a Christian! If you’re comfortable with your sinful lifestyle, with your sinful choices and choose to remain in the world, you may not be a genuine Christian. If you're conflicted, convicted and are genuinely trying to turn away from the sins......well, I pray you do and SOON! But either way, please don’t link the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ with your disobedient lifestyle! 2 Samuel 12:14, "However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." Know that willful disobedience is not taken lightly by our Lord! Not only will your testimony fall on deaf ears, it will also be a wrong testimony. It will NOT testify to the transforming Grace and Love and Power of God Almighty! Disobedience, WILLFUL disobedience, is not something you should be proud of and it's exactly those kinds of "testimonies" that lead the lost even further astray! But, if you’re walking in the light, you MUST no longer join in the lifestyle of unbelievers. The disobedient lifestyle of the unbelievers!

We have so many opportunities to glow in the dark but we must be able to live in the Light first! We can't BE the darkness and shine a light that's nearly out. This world is growing in darkness, from every corner, from every nation. The Light needs to shine and we need to GLOW! So let's all make a promise to start glowing in the dark so all the world will see the Light of Jesus Christ!! If He is IN you, then let Him guide your way and He will shine in the darkest of places! Where you are, God is!! He will never leave you but strive to glow! Strive to shine! Strive to stay obedient! And stay away from the darkness!!!

In the name of Jesus Christ our Loving Lord and Savior, I ask that you use each and every one of your children to glow in the dark! I pray for your protection over each and every child and for you to lead them in the way that they shall go! I ask Father, that you speak to that one soul who is searching for your Light, that they may receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and that they will be delivered out from the darkness of which they reside! Let us all impact the darkness in the world so as many souls will be saved. I pray for your Love to reach each one that has been led to this post and let them not be rebels any longer! In Jesus' precious name. AMEN!



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