When I was a young girl, our family vacations were often camping trips. My dad and mom would take my sisters and me to a beautiful campsite in the forest or near a seashore and set up our big tent, our camp stove, and several lawn chairs. This would be our home for a few days. We would pretty much have free rein to run around the campsite, take hikes, follow trails, and just check back in at mealtimes. It was great fun until it got dark. Because we couldn’t see very well, it was a little scary out there! We would hurry back “home” to where our dad had lit a few propane lanterns and set them around the campsite. Our dad turned our darkness to light, and we were so thankful. We felt safe and secure and unafraid!
As born-again believers, we are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8). We have the ability to bring the light of God to people who walk in darkness as we shine as lights in this world. Just as people need physical light to walk securely and safely and unafraid, they also need the spiritual light of God’s Word to walk securely, safely, and unafraid. We can show people that God is light, that His Word is light, and that His Son was light while he was on earth. Let’s look at some verses that show us this.
GOD IS LIGHT
I John 1:5:
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
James 1:17:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Psalms 27:1:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
GOD’S WORD IS LIGHT
Psalms 119:105:
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 19:8:
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Proverbs 6:23:
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.
God is light and His Word is light. We shine the light of His Word on our lives by reading it, studying it, and bringing it to our minds. Then we have the truth we need to walk with abundance and power, shining as lights for others. We can live this way because of all that Jesus Christ accomplished for us. He was the light of the world while he was on this earth.
JESUS CHRIST WAS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
John 9:5:
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Jesus Christ is no longer on this earth, but we are!
When we stay focused on God’s Word, the light of His Word in our lives dispels darkness. God’s Word enlightens our eyes and illuminates our paths so that we can walk in His abundance and power. We now have the privilege to shine as lights in this world—to be the light givers.
Philippians 2:15,16:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights [luminaries, light givers] in the world;
Holding forth the word of life….
As we walk in the light of God’s Word and take the place of Jesus Christ on this earth, we can bring light to others by holding forth the Word of Life. We can be those light givers to others who may be walking in darkness and may be afraid. We can help them find their way to God’s abundance and power as we shine as lights in this world!