Our Loyalty to The Light
—Third of a trilogy
Jesus said, "Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light... the truth" (John 3:19-21). We cannot be like that. We must love the light rather than the darkness, and love requires loyalty and commitment else it is not love.
1 Walk in the Light
As children of light, we must walk in the light and shun the darkness. ¶ "If we say that we have fellowship with God and yet walk in the 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 him and he with us..." (1John 1:6-7).
John goes on to give an example (1John 2:8-11) namely that to abide in the light we must love our brothers.
"The one who says he is in the light yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now, whereas the one who loves his brother abides in the light..." (1John 2:9-10).
Paul exhorts us, "You were formerly in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).
Jesus himself said, "Walk while you have the light so that the darkness will not overtake you. He who walks in darkness does not know where he goes" (John 12:35)
2 Believe in the Light
Jesus went on to say, "While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light" (John 12:36).
Jesus also warns, "Watch out that the light in you may not be darkness" (Luke 11:35). That's a way of telling us to take care what we believe.
Paul warns us likewise that “Satan transforms himself into an angel of light” (2Corinthians 11:14). That "light" is really darkness.
3 Be Loyal “Sons” of Light
Notice also the latter part of the statement, "While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light" (John 12:36).
Opportunity, Response, Purpose!
In those words of Jesus we see...
(1) Opportunity: “While you have the light...”
(2) Response: “...believe in the light...”
(3) Purpose: “...in order that you may become sons of light.”
Every Christian is a son of light. Men have sons and daughters; God has only sons. Whether you are a man or a woman, God adopts you as his son and heir with no distinction between male and female regarding eternal inheritance (Galatians 3:28-29).
"There is neither Jew nor Greek; neither slave nor freeman; neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus —and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, and heirs according to God’s promise" (Galatians 3:28-29).
Without question, if we are sons of light, we must be ready to defend the inheritance of light against the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12-18, 1Thessalonians 5:4-6, Rom13:12).
4 Defend the Light
¶ "For our struggle isn't against flesh and blood: it's against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms. So you must take up the full armor of God..." (Ephesians 6:12-13).
"But you, brethren, are not in darkness that the day of the Lord should overtake you as a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep..." (1Thessalonians 5:4-6, NASB).
"The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast away the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light" (Rom13:12).
This trilogy has taught us that God is the only source of spiritual light. God reveals the same light to everyone —the gospel revealed by Jesus 2000 years ago. We escape darkness by becoming loyal children of that light, by believing and obeying Jesus Christ the Light of Life.