Light.

First and foremost, I've got to state that I typically make a fairly cognizant effort to write these posts for a wide spectrum of readers on many different walks of faith and life. I may often fail in these regards, but tonight I will preface this post by making myself clear that this will most assuredly resonate most effectively within the hearts and minds of those who already find their home within the grace and cross of Christ. If this isn't you, and you're still testing the claims of Christ, or even stand far from him in every sense, I still would love for you to read what lies below in hopes that somehow you may find in them truth. Here we go.

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."

Should you have any kind of childhood history in the church as I do, this familiar childhood tune may ring a bell of nostalgia deep within. The theological truth of the song I sang as a five year old finds itself within the book of Matthew, chapter five.

"In the same way, 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 ESV)

In a quick side note I must again reiterate, as I have in past posts, that EVERYTHING happens and occurs for his glory. Good things, and bad things. We will glorify him as objects of his mercy, or objects of his wrath, and claim absolutely no hold over the choice to glorify him or not. Ironically the finger shaking atheist ends up glorifying that which he defies in his finger shaking rage. Do we always, in our finiteness, always see it? Absolutely not. Does the God, who sits outside of time and space? Yes. He. Will. Have. His. Glory. He is sovereign, he is God, and he sits in the heavens and does all that he pleases. None can stay his hand and ask of Him, "What have you done?"

See: Psalm 115:3

See: Daniel 4:35

We see the word "light" throughout the Word being used a plethora of times, for a multitude of different instances.

We are light.

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as LIGHTS in the world..." (Philippians 2:14-15 ESV)

"For you are all children of LIGHT, children of the day. We are not of night or of the darkness." (1st Thessalonians 5:5)

Christ the son is light.

"Again Jesus spoke to them saying, "I am the LIGHT of the world." (John 8:12a ESV)

"The true LIGHT, which enlightens everyone was coming into the world." (John 1:9 ESV)

God the Father is light.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of LIGHTS with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17)

"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." (1 John 1:5)

"...the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone dwells in unapproachable LIGHT..." (1 Timothy 6:16)

Textually, at first glance, there could seem to stand a bit of tension. Are we the light? Is Christ the light? How is everything tied together comprehensively?

The most accurate answer I can put forward is: Yes. WE are the light. Being us, the Christ, and the Father.

God the Father being the light leads quite logically to the man of Christ being the light.

"But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible IS LIGHT." (Ephesians 5:13 ESV)

Christ, being the light of the world, shines upon those who follow him in spirt and truth whereby we become the light as he is the light. I think the most practical understanding we can take away from this is found in the book of 1st Peter.

"but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (1st Peter 1:15-16 ESV)

How do we truly accomplish this? If Christ is the light, and we are to be the light as he was the light, by what means can we actively live this out day to day? Another way the scriptures use the word "light" may provide some insight.

"Your WORD is a lamp to my feet and a LIGHT to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

His word is the key. By it his spirt moves, and his will is discerned. By it we learn the truths of morals, of ethics, and the right-standing of righteousness. By it we find truth, and the existence thereof. By it we meet the man of Christ, the author of faith, and the substitutionary atonement for our depraved and wicked souls. In the Word stands the way of life, the way of truth, and the way of which leads to the everlasting.

Christ is the light. God the Father is the light, whom dwells in unapproachable light. We are the light, having been shone upon by the light. The Word is the light. May we be people of the light, and in the light.

"for at one time you were in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8 ESV)

Should you be a skeptic, as I forewarned and acknowledged, most of this was not for you. At all. Yet, I beseech you here, as I have when I started writing this blog two months ago. Should you act upon the impulsions of his word, I am confident you will find them sufficient. Meaning this. Test the word for what it says. Should the text read: "Come to me all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.", I dare you to truly seek what that looks life for where you stand, and see what fruits are sown from your action.

Should you be a believer, may you be of a people who let your light shine among men. Do so not for your own glory, for if you try to please man, you will not be a servant of God. See: Galatians 1:10. Do so that God, in every sense, fashion, and form will receive every bit of glory he deserves. May we be people who stand firmly on the truth of his word, and refuse to shrink back and be destroyed, but believe and are saved (Hebrews 10:39). May we be people of action. See: James 1:22, 1st John 3:18, 1st Peter 1:13.

May we be children of the light.

May the Word move in you, and through you.

To Him be the glory.

-Matt Allen