THE CONTRAST OF LIGHT AND DARK. Ephesians 5:8-14 The contrast between darkness and light, which cannot coexist in fellowship, is highlighted in 2 Corinthians chapter six, where it states there is no communion between them. Believers have been brought into the kingdom of God by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are to live in a manner that reflects that position. Evidence of this being a fact can be seen when believers exhibit goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Goodness involves open and active displays of kindness toward others. This encourages believers and convicts sinners. When we make decisions, we should not discourage others but instead help and guide them through our actions and words. Righteousness is moral integrity that is faultless. It means doing what is right through our actions and words. The imputed righteousness of Christ in believers makes this possible. We need to be able to live with a good conscience and avoid offending God or people.
Truth does not pretend, compromise, or form an alliance with evil. What we say and do should stand the test of reality when examined by the Lord. God looks at our hearts and sees who we truly are and what lies behind our actions. When these three qualities—goodness, righteousness, and truth—are in order and functioning properly, we can demonstrate what is acceptable to the Lord. Our true selves originate in our minds, which are transformed when they are renewed by surrendering them to our Lord at all times.
We may not always realize or understand the full impact of a true Christian's moral life in this dark world. By choosing not to participate in the ungodly behavior of others that dishonors God and destroys lives, we offer something positive to people living in the darkness of sin. Unbelievers live in futility. They are no more able to do good that gains favor from God than a dark cave can produce light.
The believers in Ephesus, hearing these words for the first time, understood what Paul was talking about. They had not only been in darkness before God saved them, but darkness was also in them. They "were darkness" but now they are "light in the Lord." What a contrast! What evidence of God's grace! This could be observed by others who knew them before their conversion and now see the reality of their faith.
The fact of being light in the Lord transforms everything in our lives. We are "children of light." That means there was Someone who was Light before we were made light. That Light is our Lord, who was "the Light of the world" and who tells us that we are "the light of the world." Through us, light is shown to those who live in darkness. They can receive light from Christ through the light we "make manifest." As we live out our new life in Christ, a powerful good effect results. Those in the light are pure and true, living in God’s light that creates a moral and ethical character. Instead of being blind to spiritual truths and dead to God, they are God’s children walking in His light and showing the fruit of the Spirit. They now understand what is acceptable unto the Lord.
The fruit of the Spirit is not some ethereal, unreal behavior that makes us completely detached from what is happening around us. Instead, it is evident in our life of freedom in the Lord, where the chains of sin's restrictions are broken. We can genuinely live a life that pleases Him and benefits others. Our position and condition should be united and visible.
There is evidence of the reality of the new birth and new life of a new creature in Christ, seen in three simple ways. "Goodness" refers to moral excellence in ourselves, in which our actions reflect our faith. We are expected to live above reproach morally and conduct our lives to reflect God's goodness to those around us, who see very little goodness in daily life. "Righteousness" has to do with how we deal with others. This is moral and spiritual light shining on our business, conversations, and leisure activities. Our family and friends see this, and often neighbors do as well, even if we may be unaware. The third way this light is visible is "Truth." Honesty in our actions, reality in our attitude, and fairness in how we treat others without "respect of persons" all radiate a strong beam of light into dark areas of human lives.
It is important to consider the beneficial results for us and how being light impacts others. As a child of light, I can get my questions answered. "Should I do this?" "What difference does it make?" "Why can't we do that?" These questions are answered when I prove what "is acceptable unto the Lord." A simple test for any action I consider is asking myself, "What does the Lord think about this?" This avoids complicated explanations for an honest believer. After all, the Holy Spirit is within us, producing what God wants us to do and be through us. Don't complicate what is simple. The Spirit’s guidance is to do what is appropriate for the time, place, and purpose you are in.
We were once darkness in the past, and because of that, there may be an attraction to the "unfruitful works of darkness" today. Remember, there is only sorrow and shame in those fruits because the fruit of darkness is morally and spiritually barren. There is inherent shame in them that we should in no way participate in or tolerate. We should show no leniency toward evil and should go beyond merely avoiding those dark things to speaking out against them with words of conviction and correction.
Believers should steer clear of those who practice evil deeds and avoid participating in any evil activities. Evil deeds are revealed, exposing the darkness of sin and showing sin for what it truly is. People need to understand why we steer clear of evil practices and those who “love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.” Usually, people recognize what is wrong but don't realize how serious it really is. Any association with evil taints us. Therefore, it is crucial that we do not discuss immoral sins or make comments or jokes about evil, just as those in darkness tend to do.
It is not right to focus on evil and what is wrong but rather on truth and what is right. Light reveals the nature of darkness when sinners are dead to God in their sins. Light comes through Christ, who is “The Light of the world.” When he is received and obeyed, a sinner is transformed into a new creation in Christ Jesus. There is inherent power in light that exposes darkness, as the rays of harnessed spiritual energy shine into the vacuum of darkness. Light exposes evil for what it is and reveals what it does. But light also provides direction and hope. The shining of spiritual light shows how change can be brought about. It not only exposes and rebukes the fact that evil is wrong but also that it worsens. Through the standards of righteousness and the stand that believers take despite the pressure to conform to evil, those in darkness are awakened, and hope is provided to those who are lost to turn to the light.
It is unwise to measure ourselves by ourselves or other people. Christ is our righteousness and our standard for life and conduct. We reject sin and rebuke the evils of spiritual darkness with grace, aiming for restoration rather than condemnation and rejection. Open sin must be addressed openly, but there is no benefit in exposing secret sin. Discipline should aim to eliminate the problem, not to publicize it. The goal is behavior change.
In the lives of committed Christians who live what they believe and teach, there is light given to the lost. Hope rises for a new day. Christ's love and light shine on them now through those who are rays of light in the darkness, guiding the lost to our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Light of life. It's important for us to recognize how vital it is to stay the course laid out in God's Word. We have nothing to offer those in darkness if we try to be as much like them as possible. They need to understand that true life begins when they become like us.
We are who we are because God's light shined into us. It would be foolish of me to lower my standards of life and conduct that are based on the Bible in order to attract people to the Savior. It would be foolish of us as assemblies of God's people to try to attract people to God's truth by adapting our practices to appeal to the fleshly desires of the ungodly. To compromise what we know to be right in order to attract those who want to do wrong is in no way appealing to a seeking soul. The "few that be that find it" will come to the light because they want to, and the Father draws them. The differences are the strengths of truth, not similarities to sin.
Children of light should encourage others to reflect on themselves when they hear believers' words and see divine life in their actions. When sinners recognize their sins, the Spirit of God convicts them through believers who are committed to the Holy Spirit, carry out God's word, and are filled with the Spirit. Spiritual Christians will be aware of their responsibility and their need to please the Lord daily. When we walk in the light, our lives will align with living in the light. We are children of light, called to walk worthy of our calling, in love, in light, and in wisdom.
Trying to mix incompatible elements results in a mixture that cannot last. Light and darkness will always remain separate. When death comes, everyone's die is cast. That is why the lives of God's children are meant to shine in this world as lights, powered by the Spirit of God within them, serving as daily reminders of what is right. Attempting to bring about moral, spiritual, and lasting change by conforming to sin is pointless. Light cannot rearrange darkness by letting its illumination fall to the ground. Instead, light must uphold its unchanging standards so that those in darkness can see the eternal truths that God Himself has commanded.
Those who are light need to let their lights shine brightly, unfazed by what others do. People in darkness need to find what is right and true. By living in reverence of the Lord, we demonstrate that we have something that people in darkness need. Living by faith, guided by the Spirit and the Word, may inspire those in darkness to pay attention to goodness, righteousness, and truth.