Today’s passage: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10
The Bible is filled with passages concerning light and its comparison to God, Jesus and His followers, the Christian walk and knowledge. In contrast, darkness is often compared to Satan, evil works, sin and the lack of knowledge or wisdom.
There are many works of darkness taking place in the world around us. Every day there are reports of Christian persecutions taking place, whether physical or emotional, by direct contact or by the removal of citizens’ rights to worship. At the same time, groups with causes that are in direct violation of God’s laws are given assistance and support by governments. The degradation of our own country’s moral values is growing more increasingly apparent and seemingly impossible to stop; however, God has always kept a remnant throughout the history of man and through that remnant, He has ensured that His will is done, no matter how bleak the circumstances may seem.
In Noah’s day, God noted that man had grown intolerably sinful and that “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). In fact, there was so much sin rampant in the world that only Noah was found to be righteous and therefore he and his family were saved. The evil were destroyed in a great purging of the sinfulness that had overtaken God’s creatures.
Isaiah felt alone when he faced Jezebel’s wrath and surely his fear must have been great as he learned of other prophets’ deaths by Ahab and Jezebel’s command. He ran for his life and hid in a cave, feeling the isolation of serving God alone; yet, was he really alone? An angel of the Lord visited Isaiah and told him, “I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him" (I Kings 19:18). That special remnant existed, even though Isaiah was not aware of it.
The generations in our world today desperately need a light to follow to lead them out of their dark paths of sin. As Christians, we are called upon to be that needed light. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Our roles are similar to that of a lighthouse. A lighthouse is a tower designed to shine a bright light in order to assist boat pilots the safe navigation of rocks or other hazards at sea. There are many hazards along the pathway of life such as selfishness, infidelity, addictions, sexual perversion, humanism and idolatry. Though radio, television, movies and the Internet are not evil in and of themselves and can be used to reach the lost, they have sadly been used much more frequently as tools of darkness. Children’s shows are being inundated with worldly concepts and “family shows” rarely exist any longer. Commercials are increasingly filled with sexual innuendos and are interspersed into programs that were supposedly designed for families to safely watch.
Lighthouses lead the way to safe passage into the harbor. If we as Christian women fail in our role to help others find Christ, then we are as useless as a lighthouse that has lost its light. In the darkness, souls will perish because they cannot find their way to the safe harbor that we were led to find. Without God, we cannot know His will nor can we have the wisdom to avoid things that might damage our consciences.
The Israelites were led by God by night and day so that they would not become hopelessly lost in the desert. If God had chosen to extinguish His pillar of fire just one night, perhaps many of the people would have been lost forever. Instead, He continued to lead them by illuminating their path and serving as a protection against any enemies who were following.
Many references are found in the Bible of God’s saving light and its necessity to Christianity.
Job: “When his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I walked through darkness!” Job 29:3
David: “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Psalm 36:9
Jesus: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Matthew 4:16
John: “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” John 1:9.Paul: “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” Romans 13:12
Peter: “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” 2 Peter 1:19
Let us shine as lighthouses to light the way home to Heaven. Let us look for those opportunities as we travel our journeys today and never forget that there are others looking to us for hope and guidance. We must never let our lights be extinguished!
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