Like many families, we have to get up pretty early in the mornings in order to have all the kids (and adults) ready in time to get to our specific destinations in a timely manner. As a result, there are many days when the house is still pretty dark as I wake up the boys. However, because I’ve been in the kitchen already, the light is on in there. It never fails, as soon as any of them walk into that room, they wrinkle up their noses, and squint their eyes. My three-year-old has grown rather fond of shouting “It’s too bright, daddy! Turn the light off!” Coming into the light out of the darkness can seem harsh and even painful to sensitive eyes. But, usually within minutes, they have transitioned from their “night vision” to the “light vision,” and are doing just fine.
Now come on, you know this screams for spiritual application! Before we begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, we exist in this area of darkness. The bible tells us we walk in darkness, or if you want to take the less subtle approach, we were dead in our sins. (Check out Ephesians 2 as one example.) Once the light of Christ was revealed to us, at that time when we place our faith in Jesus and call out to Him for our salvation, we leave the darkness and step into the light of God.
That’s not always an easy transition. Even for those who already know Christ, and are just discovering another area of darkness in their lives that they need to turn over to Jesus, stepping out of the darkness and into the light of Jesus can be kind of rough. Just like the sudden light can make our eyes and even our head hurt, the transition between “away from God” and “Walking with God” can be painful. Many times it’s simply pride. We don’t like to realize we’ve been wrong, and the sting of having to admit that can be difficult. Other times can be worse; what if we’re involved in relationships and friendships that are not honoring to God and we know the only way to get back into the Light is to cut ties with those people? Just because we’re doing what God wants doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy and painless.
Scripture is clear on the point, however. We cannot remain in this darkness and have fellowship with God. “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:4-7
Not only does our relationship with God improve (or begin, as the case may be) but our fellowship with other believers is strengthened when we walk in the Light of God. All the amazing qualities God instilled in us through the Holy Spirit are revealed in His light, and we become blessings to those around us.
So, while transitioning out of the darkness can be a difficult and potentially painful experience, once it is done, we will experience life through our “light vision,” and can see the world the way Jesus sees it. This will help us to better know our purpose, and our place of service to God as we seek to make a difference to those around us, sharing this Light of Christ with them. “...Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
