Children of Light

Ephesians 5:8-9 NIV 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.

The most precious resource in the world is not gold, silver, diamonds, or even oil. The most valued resource is light. Light powers photosynthesis in plants, producing oxygen and forming the base of the food chain, necessary for regulating our natural rhythms of life, impacting health, sleep, and mood. While water, air, and mineral resources are essential for life, light powers the entire planet.

The first words spoken in scripture are God’s proclaimation, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). God’s first act was to separate light from darkness. Genesis 1:2 tells us that prior to this, darkness covered the whole earth. These first three verses of the Bible reveal God’s plan for mankind; even before sin entered the world, He was separating darkness and light. 2 Corinthians 4:6 tells us, “For God, who said, 'Let there be light in the darkness,' has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God, seen in the face of Jesus.”  God has displaced darkness so we would know His glory.

In Ephesians 5:8, Paul does not say we were in darkness but that we were darkness. Just as the earth was covered in darkness. It doesn’t say we now have light; it says we are light, so live as children of light. This is not some abstract theological statement and a change in behavior but the declaration of our new identity. Our spiritual metamorphosis: “old things have passed away (darkness); all things are new (light)” (2 Corinthians 5:17). No longer separated from God but now united with Christ. God does not just suggest His children of Light can shine, but they must shine! Light is our very calling.

How are we light? It’s not because we are good in ourselves. Paul said it a few verses earlier, “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). We have been forgiven through the blood of Christ and raised up to be seated in heavenly places. If this is who we are, then this is how we must walk, day by day. Paul went on to say, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). It’s not about trying to expose darkness within others but focused on exposing it within ourselves. That includes identifying areas of darkness that remain in our lives, confessing, and asking for the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus promised, "Those who follow me will have the light of life.”

What does it look like to walk as children of light? Paul spells out what light produces in our lives: "The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.” God is good, and living God’s way is good. Psalm 107:1 proclaims, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.” This isn’t living by some arbitrary set of rules but living aligned with God’s word, His will, and His ways; reflecting His goodness, righteousness, and truth. This righteousness has a single source: “Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). The truth is that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, moving us from the dominion of darkness into His marvelous light. This is truth that is light.

As Paul stood before King Agrippa, he retold his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and the commission given to him by God “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). It is the same mandate given to each of us, to share the love of God and turn others from darkness to his marvelous light. Let’s be children of light. 

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

John 12:35-36 NLT Jesus told them, My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light. 

1 John 1:5-7 NASB This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

John 1:1-5 NASB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 8:12 NASB Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.

John 12:46 NASB I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

Isaiah 42:16 NIV I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Colossians 1:12-14 NASB Joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Isaiah 42:6-7 NASB I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

Ephesians 4:17-18 NLT With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

Isaiah 9:2 NLT The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT For God, who said, Let there be light in the darkness, has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 NLT For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 NLT But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

Isaiah 2:5 TPT O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the wonderful light of the Lord!