Haven’t you noticed how we are attracted to lights?  I don’t think anyone wants darkness. No one wants brown out or total black out for that matter.  When it happens, we seek to light a candle, look for a flashlight or we even arm ourselves ready for it by purchasing generators or portable battery operated lamps beforehand.

I believe the only ones who are drawn to move in dark places are those who are doing things in violation to the law.  Most burglars do it during the wee hours of the night when most lights are off and people are sleeping.  Most people who are doing not so pleasing to the Lord stuff hide in dark places.  Why?  Because they don’t want to be SEEN for what they are doing.  SHAME and CONDEMNATION to name a few keep them in bondage.   Not that they choose to be in darkness but they’re drawn to it, not having enough strength within themselves to come against it.  The force of darkness is strong to keep one bound without knowing it if one isn’t IN CHRIST for only JESUS Who is our LIGHT and our SALVATION makes it possible for us to be FREE.  Truly, whom the Son sets free is free indeed. (John 8:36)  Then, I came to somehow understand these verses in Romans 7.

“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t.  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”  (Romans 7:15-20 NLT)

But God Who is rich in MERCY and abounding in LOVE, prepared and prearranged His language of solution before the foundation of time, for He is before time and He knows ALL things.

No wonder the first thing that God spoke into existence was LIGHT when He saw the earth was formless and empty, and DARKNESS covered the deep waters. (Genesis 1:2) When LIGHT came, He SAW that it was good.

“Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  And God SAW that the light was good. Then He separated the light from the darkness.”  (Genesis 1:3)

His creation including Adam and Eve were walking in the presence of LIGHT until the fall.  They did not literally walk in darkness, but when “death” came, them being separated from the One Who is Light Himself the very moment they ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they hid from the Lord God among the trees because they saw themselves naked and afraid instead of being clothed in glory with full confidence walking and talking with God in the cool of the day.  In darkness, fear rules.  In darkness, fear and condemnation reigns.

But then again because of God’s great love for His own people, He gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, that we may again enter in, walk and talk with Him anytime, anywhere in the Light of His presence.

“The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and His life brought LIGHT to everyone.
The LIGHT shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can NEVER extinguish it.”  (John 1:4-5 NLT)

He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him.  He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.   But to all who BELIEVED HIM and ACCEPTED HIM, He gave the right to become CHILDREN OF GOD.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (John 1:10-13 NLT)

I used to wonder why He is called the Father of Lights?  I know that Light shines best in darkest places and Jesus is our Light and our Salvation where fear can no longer take hold of us.  I know He is our Father, but why Father of Lights? He is because He is the Father of Jesus, His beloved Son, Who is the Light of the world.  Yes!  But my question still remained … why?  Then I remembered this verse …

“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,  you cannot SEE the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 NLT)

The term “born again” is not a controversial phrase.  It only becomes one when we don’t understand what it means and what it does to us.  Confidence in what Jesus has done for us is to equip us to become influential as we carry His love to a world that is so hungry and thirsty of such love that only comes from Him.  It is not to equip us to argue with those who don’t believe in Him.

Our first birth was when we came into this physical world.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. (John 3:6 NLT)  Being “born again” is when we believe and receive the finished work of Jesus Christ which is a pre-requisite for us becoming His temple.  Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that the fullness of the Godhead desires to come and make their home in us but it is only made possible when we are washed by the Blood of Jesus Christ, made HOLY and blameless for the HOLY Spirit to dwell in us.  The very moment we acknowledge Him, believe in Him, and receive Him, the LIGHT in us is switched ON.

Do you know that when darkness is all around us, we cannot SEE anything?  Try driving in the night without your car’s head lights on and with street lights off.  You cannot see where you are, let alone where you are heading.  Then you get lost and fearful.  Hmmmm … it’s the same in the spiritual realm, when the Light of the world illumines within us, no amount of darkness can stay.  Fear is dealt with not by might nor by power but by His presence Who shines bright in our lives.  There will be no struggles to put Him on.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us is light Himself radiating in and through us as we yield to His leading.  It will be as easy as turning on our headlights before we drive and darkness flees.

When there is Light, we can SEE and appreciate what we see, which is impossible to do in darkness.  He unveils our eyes to recognize His good and perfect gift.  He changes our perspective of what it means to live life.  He teaches us to appreciate life and live it well as we allow the Holy Spirit in us to control our minds leading us to life and peace, not just for our own sake but also for the sake of others.  He opens our eyes to see ourselves and the people around us the way He sees us, being created according to His image and likeness that results in treating people differently, through the eyes of His love.  It is He Who is effectually at work in us, energizing us and creating in us the power and desire both to will and to do for His own pleasure, delight and satisfaction.

Living in the light means our sins and unrighteousness have been dealt with at the cross and so are our shame, guilt and condemnation, empowering us to have the confidence to always boldly come to Him anytime, anywhere, calling Him, “Our Father”.

“So now there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”  (Romans 8:1-2)

“If you live through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.  FOR ALL WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD ARE SONS OF GOD.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:13-15)

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You, for revealing to us today and opening our eyes to SEE You as the very Source of Light and cause us SEE every good and perfect gift that You have given us.  Thank You, Jesus, for being our Light and our Salvation giving us the license to declare, “whom shall I fear?” Holy Spirit, thank You, for being the exceeding greatness of power at work in us disarming the grip of darkness in our lives and setting us FREE.  Truly, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY!  Thank You for taking us from the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of Your marvelous Light.  Amen!

 

Photo Credit:  Melai Felicidario