The New Testament Epistles are instructional manuals for each born-again believer on how to walk in the fullness of their new identity in Christ. One of the attributes of this new identity is that we are now Children of Light, translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of the Light (Colossians 1:13). The Apostle Paul also highlights how to practically walk in this new identity by instructing us to walk as children of Light in Ephesians 5:1-15. Through these scriptures, we learn that we expose darkness through our lifestyle and character.
Each believer has the advantage of this Light because this is the Light they have been adopted into in Christ. John 1:1-5 describes Jesus Christ as the Light which darkness cannot overcome. So as believers, because we have Jesus Christ in us, His Light exposes and overcomes all darkness around us. Light is a spiritual armor for battle!
As Light bearers, we also bear the fruit of the Light by imitating Christ. Christ as His Light consists of goodness, righteousness and truth-these are fruits of being a Light career. 1 Corinthians 11:1 calls for believers to imitate Christ. Goodness, righteousness, truth, and justice are not only ye nature of Christ but the foundations of God. If we are rooted and grounded in Christ, we should bear the fruit of these attributes through our character.
In our identity as Light carriers or children of the Light, we expose darkness by
- Learning what is acceptable to God and being doers of His word (Ephesians 5:10)
- Letting our lifestyles be examples of our acceptance of Christ through our behaviors (Ephesians 5:10)
- Demonstrating personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character. Doing this contradicts worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness. This is Light shining in darkness (Ephesians 5:11)
- The Light in you is a spiritual armor for battle. By putting on the Armor of Light at all times, we expose and deafer darkness. Matthew 5:14-16 says you are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Through these scriptures, we see the correlation between light and our deeds or character.
- By walking circumspectly in honor, purpose-driven, courageous, being intolerant and uncompromising with evil.
- We expose darkness by being wise, discerning, sensible, intelligent people (Ephesians 5:15)
- We expose darkness by being mindful of how we utilize our time, by recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity, and using it wisely with diligence. When we know what God is doing in each season and align with it diligently, we have no time to be involved with unproductive works of darkness. Instead, our Light is exposed through the productivity of diligence in doing the purposes of God. (Ephesians 5:15)
- We expose darkness by recognizing, renouncing, repenting, and refusing to participate in all works of darkness no matter how appealing they may look because darkness leads to death, but Light is abundant life! (Ephesians 5:18-21)
Slothfulness, laziness, passivity, consumerism, compromising, materialism, worldliness, moral failure, spiritual lethargy, spiritual dryness, and spiritual blindness are works of darkness. However, when in indulge in the opposite of these, Light overcomes darkness. Paul concludes this section on walking in the Light by quoting (Isaiah 26:1 “awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine as dawn upon you and give you Light.” There are additional calls to be children of Light who wear Light as holy garments of glory, honor, and power in Isaiah 52 and Isaiah 60.
- Isaiah 52:1a says- Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments. Each believer is a daughter or son of Zion. We belong here, and our new identity garments comprise of Light.
- Isaiah 60: 1-3 says Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you, and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your Light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah 60-:1-3 emphasizes our garments as believers. We are clothed in glory, splendor, power, and Light. The Lord himself is with us even in darkness, and He rises upon us. We are in Him; hence we have His attributes! Light attracts blessings to us, but darkness shuns blessings away from us. Light repels, overpowers, and overpowers darkness. That is who we are. That is Whose we are. Children of The Christ. Sons and daughters of Light through our character and lifestyle.