It’s important to remember darkness is not only in the world but also in the heart of man.
The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:23b, “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” In Ephesians 5:8, Paul describes our condition before salvation with these words, “ye were sometimes darkness.” Not that we were in darkness but that we were darkness! Apart from Jesus Christ, the light we think we have is darkness.
The Lord Jesus’ entrance into the world as the God-man is described in John 1 as “the light of men” (v. 4) and “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (v. 9). Here is God’s prevenient grace that goes before us and is the only basis for anyone being saved and coming to spiritual enlightenment. Those rejecting Christ cut themselves off from the only source of light.
There is a wonderful passage in Proverbs 4:18-19 that provides a contrast between the just who are walking in God’s light vs. the wicked who are walking in darkness. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” We can observe the descent of the lost into greater darkness, but why do we often not see the increasing illumination of God’s light in the lives of His children?
We are in as much need of God’s light after salvation as we were before. The light we must follow is never from ourselves. To the degree we are in communion with the Lord, we will be walking in the light as He is in the light (I John 1:7). Indeed, He is the light, “and in Him is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5b). The key in this context is first having fellowship with God in the light of truth, then we can have agreement with others that are also in fellowship with God.
Walking in the light of God’s truth will prevent fellowship with “the unfruitful works of darkness.” Be wary of an emphasis on fellowship with others at the expense of truth.
Again, from Proverbs 4, the normal Christian life brings increasing light providing greater discernment and understanding for daily living. However, the world can distract us and deflect that light. Are we succumbing to its dark influence in the raising of our children, in the pursuit of a successful vocation, in the cultivation of our personal relationships, in the interests that dominate our lives? Are we walking in the blindness of our culture in harmony with man rather than walking in truth in harmony with the Lord?
The only way for true light to illuminate our hearts is to remember the light within us must be from a source outside ourselves. Ephesians 5 declares what the manifestation of God’s light within us looks like. If we are in the Lord, then we become light ourselves, which manifests itself in all goodness, righteousness, and truth (v. 9). Our focus will be choosing to do what is well pleasing to the Lord (v. 10) rather than pleasing ourselves. Seeking to please the Lord keeps our heart open to the light of God’s Word so we can have wisdom to understand what God’s will is (v. 17). If we do not desire to please the Lord, then we will not be able to understand His will for our lives.
As Paul reminds us in verse 16, “the days are evil.” Therefore, we must be careful about our walk (v. 15). The easiest thing in life is to make unwise choices. It is only the light given by Christ that awakens us out of our natural state of sleep and raises us to spiritual life to keep us from being unwise (v. 14).
May we always have this testimony, God’s grace: “His candle shined upon my head, . . . by His light I walked through darkness” (Job 29:3).