Light and darkness are not opposing forces. Dark is simply the absence of light. When light enters, darkness is dispelled. There was a time when we lived in spiritual darkness. That’s all we knew. It was natural and normal. Then we met the Light of the world. He dispelled the spiritual darkness that saturated our hearts. Jesus “called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9-10). Paul says we are “children of the light, children of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5). Jesus says it this way.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 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.

Notice that Jesus did not say that we need to become lights in the world or that when we are more mature in our walk, we might be lights in the world. He says, “You are the light of the world”! Jesus did not go to the cross so we could conceal our transformed lives. Jesus did not burst from the grave so that we could live underground. The Light did not come so we could live in the dark. When the eternal God lives in us by his Spirit, we can’t hide the light any more than we could hide the lights of a city on a hill.

The Light has come to dispel the darkness. And he has chosen to dispel the darkness through us. What a calling! What a privilege! Be the light and shine bright!

Father, teach us the difference between false humility and fear. Don’t let us hide our light under a basket. Bring praise to yourself by shining through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.