One common belief I hear about living apart from God is that doing so gives one a sense of freedom. It has the illusion of being able to do whatever one wants in life without having to bother with religious teachings getting in the way. Through this mindset, selfish desires can be temporarily gratified. Making vulgar jokes, stealing, and manipulating someone in a relationship to have a “good time” may all seem to be acceptable. However, that isn’t the whole story.
When we consider the Bible, we find passages such as, “The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over” (Prov. 4:19). While it may be initially funny to share a crass joke, doing so may also be demeaning to a number of people, all of whom are made in the image of God. Taking something from another will get what one wants, but also deprives another of their goods that were rightfully purchased. Finally, sexual sin may be initially enjoyable, but it is a sin against one’s body (1 Cor. 6:18).
Elsewhere in the New Testament, the apostle Paul instructs the Ephesians to not fornicate, covet, or do any other filthy behavior. The reason for these warnings is because those who do such things do not have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ. Moreover, the wrath of God comes upon them since they are children of disobedience. From this passage, we also understand that these people are in darkness (Eph. 5:3-8a).
Thankfully, such outcomes don’t have to remain that way.
Looking further along in the text, we have a reason for hope. It goes on to say, “For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, [9] for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, [10] proving what is well pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:8-10). As noted at the beginning of verse 8, the Ephesians were all once darkness. However, these people were now saints who were in Christ. That darkness was their past situation prior to knowing God. The Ephesians were now light in the Lord, and they were expected to walk as children of light.
In like manner, we were once darkness outside of Christ, but now we are light in the Lord. We have no reason to do the deeds of darkness, but rather are instructed to bear fruit of the Spirit. This contrast between darkness and light can be found in a number of different places in the Scriptures.
In the first letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle describes the day of the Lord coming like a thief in the night (1 Thes. 5:2). When this happens, sudden destruction will come on those in darkness. But to the Christians, Paul explicitly says that they aren’t in darkness, instead, they are children of light and of the day (1 Thes. 5:3-4). He even emphatically adds, “We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness” (emphasis mine).
For those of us who are Christians, we must never forget this. On the other hand, that change is not yet applicable for those who are darkness. Even though that is the case, because of Jesus Christ, all of us can see a great light out of the darkness. This truth is based on a prophecy that is fulfilled near the beginning of the Gospel According to Matthew. The text reads,
“‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, [16] the people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.'”
Matthew 4:15-16
Because of this light, we don’t have to remain in the shadow of death. Instead, we can have the light of God through Jesus Christ, and share that light with the world. This is what we will explore next time.
Image Used
Light Shining Into the Darkness in a Forest by ELG21 from Pixabay.
James L. Hutton 