Louise Gevers

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:19-21)

These are serious words. Clearly, people choose to live in the light or they live in the darkness. But we must remember that if we choose darkness, we share it with the devil. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

Friday we were reflecting on the light and life that Jesus brings from God. We saw the magnificence of His light and the richness of life with which He intended us to be blessed. We ended with the question asking whether we were living in that life of light, or whether we were still in darkness. It is very important to answer this question and to answer it honestly, as it affects our whole life, how we live, and eternity.

In examining the Scripture above, it is evident that there is no middle path in answering the question. John writes that a person doing evil things loves the darkness, because it hides these deeds, and hates the light that exposes them. Everyone is very conscious of having the right to self-expression, but any action is always followed by positive or negative consequences. These show whether a person is living in the light, or in the darkness. “Then you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

When a person lives “by the truth”, he will live in a spirit of freedom because his conscience is clear and he does not fear God seeing his life, just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. However, when a person lives wilfully with wrongdoing, whether it is idolatry, blaspheming, disregarding a day of rest, disrespecting his parents, committing murder, committing adultery, stealing, lying, or envying his neighbour’s possessions, the darkness will affect every part of his life and will not be limited to those sinful deeds. Even someone living in the light that slips into deeds like these will be adversely affected. Captivity to his wrongdoing can result, which will lead to frustration, and his lack of understanding and sensitivity towards the things of the Spirit will grow.

This results in a hardening of heart towards right and wrong and, ultimately, towards God.  Ephesians 4:18 says: “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” Adam and Eve hid from God and were ashamed of their nakedness after they had disobeyed God. We too are naked before God; we cannot hide anything.

Prayer: Father God, I want to live in Your light completely. Please free me from my bondage to