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Response
Throughout the Bible, light is contrasted with darkness. God is light, as stated in (1 John 1:5), and living in the light symbolizes living in God’s truth, goodness, and wisdom. Conversely, living in darkness symbolizes living in sin or leading a life separated from God. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” in (John 8:12). Regrettably, many preferred darkness over light, as mentioned in (John 3:19). Those who rely on God for salvation embrace the light and receive abundant life, while those who embrace darkness will encounter eternal separation from God in the “blackest darkness” (Jude 1:4-13).
In John 3:18–19, it is stated, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” People naturally gravitate towards darkness, clinging to their sins, which prevents them from approaching Christ: “Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed” «For every one that doeth evil hateth theLight, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” , (John 3:20).
As a result of sin, all people are born in a state of spiritual darkness that separates them from God. Sin blinds people to the truth and darkens their understanding of reality: “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him” “having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: “, (Ephesians 4:18, NLT).
Despite people loving darkness rather than light, God made the way to rescue them from sin and its consequences. Isaiah described the Messiah as a great light who would come into “the land of deep darkness” “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”, (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus referred to Himself as the light of the world “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”, (John 8:12), thereby connecting Himself to the prophesied Messiah who would bring true light into the world “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”, (John 1:9). He is the “light of all mankind” “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”, (John 1:4) and the light and salvation.
For those who trust in Him, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”, (Psalm 27:1). The One who opened blinded eyes can bring us out of spiritual darkness and into His marvelous light, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”, (1 Peter 2:9).
John 3:21 describes a believer as one who “lives by truth [and] comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” Believers “live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)” (Ephesians 5:8-9). Having been rescued from the kingdom of darkness, “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”, (Colossians 1:13), believers no longer hide in the darkness of sin. They live in the light (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6;1 John 1:7). Believers will not reach perfection on this earth, but they do not continue to actively live in sin (1 John 3:6;1 John 5:18). They allow God’s light to shine in and through them as they are transformed by God’s love and truth and reflect His character.
Jesus told believers, “You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in h
Heaven” «You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. », (Matthew 5:14,16) «Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. », (Matthew 5:14,16). We are no longer the people who loved darkness rather than light. Instead, we are “children of the light and children of the day” «You are all children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. », (1 Thessalonians 5:5). We allow the light of God’s truth and love to shine in our lives and out into the dark world around us.
