This week I introduced to the students in my high school yearbook class how to take effective pictures. One aspect of photography that makes or breaks an image is lighting. In fact without light there is no image. Without light there is no color. Without light the image is dark, uninteresting, and lifeless. The same is true in our relationships and circumstances. Without the light of truth people are lost in darkness. Relationships where there is no truth are toxic. Situations which cover up the truth destroy. The cancel culture, censorship, misinformation, and deceit that’s so prevalent in society, global media, and policy making is stealing the joy, peace, freedom, and quality of life people could experience if they knew the truth. You can change that. Seek God’s help to know and share the truth. Then you and others can move from the deadly darkness of deceit into the life-giving light of truth.
Step Into the Light
We are all in darkness until we look to Jesus who is the light of the world. “Through him [Jesus—God the Son] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:3-5). “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people 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 their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (John 3:19-21). Your first step to real life is to let God expose any darkness in you. Confess any sin, falsehood, hypocrisy, or wrongdoing and receive the forgiveness that Jesus has made possible on your behalf. Then walk with him by faith.
Walk in the Light
If you have come to trust Jesus as your savior and lord, you reflect his light to show others the way out of darkness. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Don’t lie or gossip. Live in a way that points people to what is true and right. Jesus told his followers, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). The apostle John reiterates that exhortation, “This is the message we have heard from him [Jesus] and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out 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, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:1-8). Listen to Jesus and do what he shows you. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
Reflect the Light
As God reveals truth to you, share it with others in love. Don’t use the truth to pridefully be right or to tear others down. Use the truth to encourage, liberate, and restore others. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:8-16). One of the blessings of sharing the light with others is that not only does it help them, but it benefits you also. God reveals more truth as you use what he has given you. It’s an enriching cycle making it easier to hear the Spirit of God, discern his will, withstand deceit, and understand his purposes.
In many ways our world is wasting away in darkness. As much as people try to do good, it is not enough to save humankind. People need help beyond themselves to heal broken hearts and to rehabilitate our fallen society. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Follow him he will show you the truth. Then shine that light. By God’s grace and power proclaim the truth, stand up for what’s right, expose darkness and deceit, seek the lost, serve those in need, and love the unloving. As you do, God will rescue people out of deadly darkness into his wonderful light and life while working to restore all of creation under Jesus (Colossians 1:15-22, 2:6-15; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Ephesians 1:3-10).