Walking in Light

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul makes this astounding statement about all who believe in Jesus Christ. Paul says that before you believed in Christ, “you were once darkness.” You were not only “in darkness,” but you were by your very sinful nature, “darkness.” Before our relationship with Christ, we were at one time darkened in sin with no hope. 

However, Paul reveals the good news when he says, “But now you are light in the Lord.” Through saving faith in Jesus Christ, all Christians are now united in Christ and His light. We are no longer darkness, but we are “light in the Lord.”

The difference between being an unbeliever and a believer in Jesus Christ is the difference between darkness and light. There are no shades of gray. You are either blinded by darkness and alienated from God, or you have the light of Christ and reconciled to God through Him. 

The Bible uses the metaphor “light” throughout the Old Testament and New Testament, but it is primarily in the person and work of Christ, who is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises, prophecies, and covenants, where we see God’s glorious light revealed in Christ who is the “light of the world.” 

Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12)

When we believe in Jesus Christ and are born again into the family of God as children of God by the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:1), we are united to Christ who is the “light of the world,” and because of our union with Him, we are also called by God to be “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14).

The Apostle Paul gives insight into this when he says, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). What does Paul mean when he says that Christians, who are children of God, are to “walk as children of light”? To help us understand, Paul gives further insight from his letter to the Ephesians.

Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. (Ephesians 5:8b-12)

Do you see the contrast between believers and unbelievers that God wants you to know from His Word? Believers are spiritually alive and light in this world. Unbelievers are spiritually dead and living in darkness. Believers bear fruit walking in the “fruit of the Spirit.” Unbelievers are walking in “the unfruitful works of darkness.” 

As believers, we are spiritually alive and “walk as children of light” because the light of Christ, the Holy Spirit, is in us. God has given us His Spirit, the Spirit of light, to enlighten our minds so that we can understand and obey His Word and do the things God has called us to do in this life. Paul informs us of this in his letter to the Romans.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:14-16)

God by His grace gives us the spiritual life, love, and light of Christ so that we no longer walk in darkness, but “walk as children of light.” Jesus Christ is the “light of the world” and through faith in Him, we are also “the light of the world.” Beloved, shine your light! We are not merely reflecting His light, but the light of Christ dwells within us and we live “walking in light,” so go shine your light – and shine it brightly!