« But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. » (1 Peter 2:9)
His marvellous light
Light came into existence when God declared: “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) We have had light ever since creation. But that light was for the universe. Darkness has since filled the hearts of humankind nevertheless. God was obliged to introduce another kind of light, this time to lighten the hearts of those who lived in it. Isaiah declared “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Darkness thrives only where there is no light. Even a speck of light would drive darkness away. There is no amount of darkness that even candlelight cannot dispel. And since God is light He cannot cohabit with darkness. “God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) God’s way is therefore light and anything opposed to light is darkness. God’s people had embraced darkness and had become abhorrent in His sight.
Light and darkness
Light and darkness are two worlds apart and have nothing in common. We cannot claim to be ‘the light’ and live in darkness. It is contradictory. “If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7) Like water and oil, the two just would not blend. Darkness however has invaded the earth and God is aware of the situation and He has sent His Son to be “the light of men;” that is, to show them how to live. “This light will shine in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:4-5) Indeed “the true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” John the Baptist was to be the precursor – the one to announce it to the world. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” (John 1:8)
Light of the world.”
When the light himself came into the world he declared: “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) Sadly humanity was stuck in its ways and would not let go off its wicked ways. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:19-21)
Each of us has a page of darkness in his/her life’s history that s/he would not gladly unveil to the curious eye. But that should belong to the past because now we have come to know the Lord and He is the light and there is no shadow of darkness in Him.
Sons and daughters of light
Jesus told his audience; “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:35-36) Living in permanent darkness could be a nightmare. Our Lord promises to take us out of this state into His marvellous light. He will not give up on you. He says: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelations 3:20)
In darkness you are condemned to grope to find your way and it is not evident that you would get to your destination without bumping your head more than once. It is not even certain that you will end up where you intended when you took the initial step. Darkness is equivalent to death. In its grip, anything can happen to you- even if you have to tread carefully to get to your destination. In spite of all this, human beings love doing things in the dark forgetting that God sees in the dark what we think is hidden from Him. (Psalm 139:12)
Let your light shine
Paul exhorts us and underlines that we have a different status from those who are in darkness. “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5) Therefore we should free ourselves from the things that propel us into habits we cannot easily break loose from. Darkness has its different facets, but its one and the same thing - SIN. Sin separates us from the Father, and breaks the cordial link that characterises our special relationship.
Such association breeds nothing worthwhile, and leads to our doom. It is best to heed this warning therefore. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) r
In contrast our Lord Jesus requires us to be like lampposts to lighten our world. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5 14-16) The light we reflect should be seen from a distance and must set the tone for all those who surround us.
Disguised angel
We must be careful though because the evil one will come “disguised as an angel of light” in order to deceive God’s people and foil all their plans. He is real counterfeit. He will pretend as if he is the light in a bid to lure us into his net and rejoice over our downfall. Twins may look like carbon copies of each other but if we care to look closely, deep down there is a visible difference. Take your time to examine God’s word and be sure you are not being misled. “…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14b) Our Lord Jesus describes him as: “The thief (who) comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10)
The word of God is like a staff and a rod and also serves “…as a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:103) Guided by his word which is the Bible, we shall never go astray. “The unfolding of your words give light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130) David admitted “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” (Psalm 27:1)
Whilst darkness is a force to be reckoned with on earth, rest assured that with God in the driver’s seat no amount of arsenal from Satan and his demons could prevail over the light. God had commissioned His interpreter, Moses, to seek the release of the Children of Israel from the hands of Pharaoh “so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.” (Exodus 5:1) But Pharaoh vehemently refused. God hardened his heart as the build-up for the final pestilence heightened.
Pharaoh’s resistance caved in when the wailing was all over
Under whose influence are you? Choose the LIGHT and do not let darkness hold you captive.
