September 2018

“9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) is our theme verse for 2018. This month I want to reflect upon the marvelous light.
First darkness and light are not equivalent. Look at Wikipedia’s description, “Darkness, the polar opposite to brightness, is understood as a lack of illumination or an absence of visible light.” If it were the polar opposite how can it simply be the lack of light? Light has properties and substance, while darkness is simply the absence of light. Light is “something” darkness is “nothing.” Not exactly equivalent.
“Light is electromagnetic radiation within a certain portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The word usually refers to visible light, which is the visible spectrum that is visible to the human eye and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm)” (Wikipedia) One of light’s principle effects is illumination. We can see what is before and around us. Sight makes us much more effective in living day by day.
We know by now (see January-August) that God has called us out of the darkness of sin, ignorance and alienation into “his marvelous light.” In His marvelous light we see, truth, life and love. How is this possible? Let’s consider these Scriptures.
1 John 1:5–7 (ESV) 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 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 cleanses us from all sin.
John 8:12 (ESV) 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Ephesians 5:8–9 (ESV) 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
Here are some take aways from these Scriptures. God is the source of light. He created all that is. He sustains all that is. He has an ultimate purpose for all that is. God is light and in that light is understanding, truth and authentic life.
We become partakers of light by fellowship, following, fruit. As we are united with God through following Jesus we become equipped to bear fruit and that fruit is good and right and true. The path of this fellowship is laid out in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” As we lay aside our old life and embrace His new life through the invitation to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit does His work of transformation. We become by grace a new creation born into light.
Very little fruit is birthed without light. Mushrooms (maybe not a fruit) excepted. Think of how important light is for growing things. I do not think it a great stretch to say, not much fruit will grow without light. The easy application of that is that our lives will bear no fruit without light. There will be no good, right and true in our lives without the light that God gives.
How do I become a recipient of this light? Follow Jesus, hear His invitation, leave the past, embrace His future, and become HIs disciple. Then walk (live your everyday life) as a child of light. Do the things that children of light do, love God, love your neighbor and bear fruit, making disciples. Matthew 5:16 (ESV) “16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” That light shines powerfully in the “good, right and true” of God’s commandments.
How much light shines from your life?