Light Walkers
-- Plato once said:
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark: the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
Instead of trusting Christ, modern-day thinkers insist on using human wisdom alone for answers to eternal questions.
The tragedy of this situation was graphically illustrated in a humorous skit performed by Karl Vallentin, a Munich comedian. Walking on a stage where everything was dark except for a small area under a street lamp, he began to look for something on the ground. He told the policeman who came on the scene that he was trying to find a key, whereupon the two continued the search. Finally the officer asked, "Are you sure you lost it here?" "Oh, no," said Vallentin as he pointed to a corner, "It was over there, but here is where the light is!"
The use of light in the Gospels follows, on the whole, the use of light in the OT and late Hellenistic Judaism. Hebrew thought uses light as a symbol of the divine presence and salvation
The New Testament clearly tells us that Jesus is the light, which shines on those walking in the land of the shadow of death.
1. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 (NIV)
2. "…the true light that give light to every man was coming into the world."
John 1:9 (NIV)
Letting the light shine on you is going to change you.
1. It will change your priorities- "You are the light of the world." Matthew 5:14
2. It will change your behavior- "Live as children of light." Ephesians 5:18
3. It will change your standing before God- "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
Eph 5:6-14 NIV
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
The word translated “partnership” (v. 7) implies having in common; it is often translated "fellowship" or “partakers."
Christians are partakers of.
(1) The divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4;
(2) God’s promises, Eph 3:6;
(3) Christ’s sufferings, 1 Peter 4:13;
(4) Holiness, Heb 12:10;
(5) The heavenly calling, Heb 3:1 and
(6) God’s glory, 1 Peter 5:1.
Since we have this wonderful partnership with God, how could we ever become partners with that which belongs to sin and darkness?
"What communion has light with darkness?" asks 2 Cor 6:14 (NKJV).
We are children of light and ought to walk in the light. Darkness produces sin and lies; the fruit of the light (a better translation of v. 9) is goodness, righteousness, and truth.
The light cannot compromise with the darkness; it can only expose it. Note John 3:19-21 and 1 John 1:5-10.
The need for light
• Satan has a Hatred of Spiritual Light
The devil fears the light, and this is one reason why we should always keep it burning. A governor of the Bahamas, who was about to return to England, promised to do his best to procure from the Home Government any favour the Colonists might desire. What think you was their unanimous request: "Tell them to tear down the lighthouses. They are ruining the colony!" The men were ship wreckers, and they hated the light. The devil so hates the light, that he would tear down every spiritual lighthouse in the land, if he only could.
Application
MATTHEW 5:14–16
You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in Heaven.
1. The People in the Dark Room
If you are sitting in a dark room with no windows, you can’t see the objects in the room. Even though the objects are there, you aren’t aware of them because you’re in darkness. However, if someone turns on the light switch, the things previously hidden from your eyes are now obvious.
Don’t get angry at people in spiritual darkness for not being able to see what’s obvious to you. Instead, bring them some spiritual light. (Matt. 5:14-16)
2. "No candle loses any of its light when it lights another one."
3. Light, Spiritual, Reflected: Written On Their Faces
In one of his booklets, Adrian Rogers tells of some gold prospectors who discovered an exceptionally rich mine. One of them said, "Hey, we’ve got it made as long as we don’t tell anybody else before we stake our claims." So they each vowed to keep the secret.
Because they had to have more tools and provisions, they headed for town. After buying all the supplies they needed, they hurried back to the mine site. But they weren’t alone. A crowd of people followed them because their discovery was written all over their faces.
What happens on the inside shows on the outside. Joyful Christians with the light of God on their faces are needed in the darkness of this world.
4. An Australian native preacher went to a little church in the bush to preach.
It was dusk when he arrived, the place was without light, and he wondered what to do about it. Presently, he saw twinkling lights moving about through the bush. His congregation was arriving. Each person carried a hurricane lamp, and as they came in they placed their lamps upon a shelf around the chapel wall. Soon the whole place was flooded with light. Each had contributed light that had dispelled the darkness.
Your share is needed in a world which desperately needs the illumination of the gospel.
