Light or Darkness?

“And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” (John 3:19-21 NLT)

Are you walking in the Light today? That question can be confusing for some because they’re blind to the true Light who is Jesus. They wrongly assume: “Yes, of course I’m walking in the light. Every day I walk out my door into the light of a new day.”

The big difference is this: the Light of Jesus shines out of our lives, not simply into our lives. We’re so prone to avoid commitment to Christ because we perceive that we will be giving up too much. The glitter of the darkness of sin and the trinkets of this world have blinded our heart to what is true. Corky Calhoun nailed it when he wrote: “It’s hard to shine with the light of Christ when you’re still clinging so tightly to the darkness.” 

Why are lies so much easier to believe than the Truth? Why is sinning seemingly so much more enjoyable than abstaining from sin? Isn’t it perception? If Satan is governing my life, he has me believing that nothing can be more enjoyable than sex with multiple partners? Drinking or drugging ‘til we pass out? Accumulating more wealth than we could possibly spend in 10 lifetimes?

When the truth is, nothing is more satisfying than sex in a lifetime commitment between one man and one woman. In this season of my life there’s nothing that gives me a greater high than worshipping my Lord and King Jesus. My Treasure isn’t found in dollars and cents, but in knowing my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life; that when I close my eyes in death I will open them in the presence of the only One who has truly loved me enough to give His sinless life for me.

Light illuminates not only the evil from which I need to run, but the Light of life whom I need to follow. The longer I walk with Jesus the less appeal the world holds for me. On some levels it’s like the food we eat. For years I’ve heard (and ignored) the adage that says: “You are what you eat!” That just seemed silly to me. How could that be? Until I got Diabetes from eating all the wrong things, that led to kidney issues and the real possibility of heart issues, and many other physical issues with which I wouldn’t have had to deal if I’d just been more attentive to not only WHAT I ate, but HOW MUCH I ate.

Today I can honestly tell my wife: “Honey, I never realized how good a salad could taste!” or how filling a low carb, high protein meal can be. I’m not there yet, but I’m attending a class on how to fix delicious meals for diabetics. When I graduate from the class I’ll receive a cookbook filled with recipes that I can feel good about eating.

And some may think it’s out of place to talk about meals and diets for believers, but if we don’t eat right and exercise regularly, how will we function long term to enjoy our life in Christ and the privilege we have to share that life with others. Our body is the temple of the living God, why wouldn’t we want to treat it with care and respect.

To me in this season of my life it just makes sense that if I’m going to walk in the light of Christ’s love and goodness, I should be in the best physical condition I can possibly be in to His honor and glory. My only regret is that I didn’t see this “light” many years ago.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊