Walk in the Light

Religion

Allow me to share something from my devotional reading that I find both challenging and encouraging; an understanding of Biblical Truth that is instantly applicable to me today. From a sermon called simply “Light,” by George MacDonald, found in Volume 3 of his Unspoken Sermons:

Yes; darkness is death, but not death to him that comes out of it.

It may sound paradoxical, but no man is condemned for anything he has done; he is condemned for continuing to do wrong. He is condemned for not coming out of the darkness, for not coming to the light, the living God, who sent the light, his son, into the world to guide him home. Let us hear what John says about the darkness.

… In the 19th verse [of 1John 3] he says, ‘And this is the condemnation,’–not that men are sinners–not that they have done that which, even at the moment, they were ashamed of–not that they have committed murder, not that they have betrayed man or woman, not that they have ground the faces of the poor, making money by the groans of their fellows–not for any hideous thing are they condemned, but that they will not leave such doings behind, and do them no more: ‘This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men’ would not come out of the darkness to the light, but ‘loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ Choosing evil, clinging to evil, loving the darkness because it suits with their deeds, therefore turning their backs on the inbreaking light, how can they but be condemned–if God be true, if he be light, and darkness be alien to him!

Pause and think deeply about that.

At the moment, don’t think about this in terms of an eternal destiny. Think about it as it relates to you today. Think about each thought you’ve had today. Was it a thought flowing from darkness, or a thought arising from light? What about the things you’ve done today. Was each action a product of light and truth and life and godliness? Or were some of those actions a product of darkness, which is consistent with falsehood and death and selfishness? For those thoughts and actions done in the light, think of the seeds planted and the fruit and benefit that will flow from them into your life and the lives of those around you. But for those thoughts and actions done in darkness, what consequences and sad results have been set in motion; consequences that must lead only to more darkness and produce ever growing concentric waves of disappointment, despair, destruction, and – unless checked – a living death.

Again, don’t think in terms of eternal destiny just now. Think about daily life.

When Jesus came on the scene, it was said of him:

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Matthew 4:16, quoting Isaiah 9:2)

Wherever Jesus is, there is light. Wherever Jesus is not, there is darkness. Whatever we do consistent with His ways is done in light. Whatever we do inconsistent with His ways is done in darkness. Where there is light, there is life. Where there is darkness, there is death.

Jesus invites each of us, here, today, to walk with him in light. And whenever we are not walking in his light, we are walking in darkness.

Won’t you join me today in walking with him in the light, and in shining his light – sharing his truth and life and love – to all those around us?

Back to Top