Are You Part of the Light or Part of the Darkness?

Luke 11:34-36 "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives light."

In the beginning God placed the sun and the moon to rule over the day and the night. (Genesis 1:1) Without light there would be no day. He gave us light to rule over the darkness. Isaiah 9:2 tells us "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." This was prophesying about the coming Messiah- Jesus Christ. Now that Christ has come and through His death, burial and resurrection- He gives light to those who have surrendered their lives to Him.

Light brings definition to a life. It brings form and shape. Just as the earth was without form and shape, when God spoke- Light came and brought definition. So it is when men come to the Light today. As they surrender their lives and wills over to Christ as Savior and Lord, He brings light and definition to that person. He brings purpose and desire.

The scripture reference here in Luke is a warning to us all. Many ask if a Christian can have darkness within them. Evidently the answer is yes according to this passage and others. It is possible to be born-again, redeemed but still have areas of darkness in our souls. It is up to the individual Christian to constantly be in the Light of Christ in order to show up areas of sin Many things that we do are adding to the darkness around us: anger, debate, jealousies, hate, to name a few. Even depression and discouragement and negative talking are birthed in darkness. We must stay in the light in order to expose and terminate these works of darkness- works of the flesh. (Read Galatians 5:19-21)

1 John 1:6,7 "If we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in 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 one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 "You are the sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation."

Is your life part of the Light or part of the Darkness? We must put every thought and emotion up to the light of Christ. We must allow Him to expose those areas of our lives that are part of the darkness. Things and events may happen to us. Trials and afflictions will come- but in spite of all that happens to and around us- we must walk as  people of the day- people of the light.

Allow God to put you to the test to see just where you really are. Allow Him to show up those areas of darkness that try to motivate you, control you and manipulate you. Don't be part of the darkness but be part and partakers of the Light of Jesus Christ.

(Taken from Pastor Keith's message  July 27, 2014)