Good, Reliable, Tactical Lighting that will consistently perform in live fire situations isn’t common, cheap, or widely available. In fact, you won’t find what Seal Team 7 uses at your neighborhood Dollar General store because it has a specific purpose and is meant for a select set of particular buyers. That “other stuff” at Dollar General or Walmart is good enough for “the rest of the world”, but they need purpose driven tools for their trade.
Christian, you are not just part of “the rest of the world” — you are called — you are set apart — you are Children of God — you are Sons of light — you walk a new way different from the world. Come, let’s walk together in His Word.
And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:4 ESV
It isn’t surprising that light is good –since it sprang up from the command of our Good Good Father speaking, “Let there be light.”
And can we agree that even those of us who enjoy the light should probably be more grateful for it than we sometimes are — and we should probably want to see even more of God in it and by it than we have so far.
So let’s dig in together.
Lord, open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to receive what you have to reveal to us today through your Word. Amen.
Physical light is said by Solomon to be sweet:
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. – Ecclesiastes 11:7 ESV
But gospel light is infinitely more precious and valuable, because it reveals eternal things unseen and it ministers to our immortal natures, our deceitful hearts, our very character and innermost desires.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” – John 3:19-21 ESV
When the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual light and opens our eyes to witness the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, we recognize sin in its true colors, and ourselves in our real position;
And He [the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, our Helper], when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment: about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My message]; about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me; about judgment [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned. – JOHN 16:8-11 AMP
In this pure spiritual light we see the One True God, the Most Holy God, without blemish or spot. Almighty God who is never changing, who has no deceit in Him, in Whom there is no darkness at all, as He reveals Himself,
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. – Romans 1:18-20 ESV
In the blinding clarity of this spiritual light shining in the darkness, we see His plan of mercy – as He whispers it to us in His still quiet voice – for us to consider:
Now, the way to receive God’s approval has been made plain in a way other than the laws in the Scriptures. Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. Everyone who believes has God’s approval through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no difference between people. Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌊from sin⌋. – Romans 3:21-24 GW
And this revealing spiritual light shows us the Truth of the “world to come” as this Word of God commands in the same way what is coming as it has what is finished:
There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light. – Luke 8:17 GW
The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed. – 2 Peter 3:10 GW
Spiritual light has so many beams like eyes searching in every direction for a heart that is fully committed to Him so that He may shine His light upon them — for His glory and honor and mercy and power to be revealed in the midst of this dark world through the faith of His people working through godly love poured out upon an undeserving world.
And all the varied colors and tones of the rainbow can be found in these rays of this spiritual light — whether they are knowledge, joy, holiness, or life — all are divinely good because they come from the divine.
So if the light received is good, what must the essence and source of that light be, and how glorious is the place where it comes from, that place where He reveals Himself?
Oh, Lord, since your light is so good, give us more of it, and more of yourself, the true light. Amen.
Sons of light – you who have ears to hear – listen:
As soon as there is a good thing in the world, a division is necessary. There is no time for hesitation, no time for contemplation, no profit in delaying:
And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:4 ESV
And God separated the light from the darkness.
Light and darkness have no communion; God has divided them — let’s not confuse them or foolishly, selfishly and pridefully believe that any mere man could bind together what God has set apart.
Sons of light must not have fellowship with the deeds and actions, doctrines and heresies, or deceits and trickeries of darkness.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV
The children of the day, those who walk in the light — must be sober, honest, and bold in their Lord’s work — leaving the works of darkness to those who will dwell in it forever.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:13-16 ESV
Our churches, these bodies of true believers, should by discipline and discernment —
Yes, by self-discipline —
And by discerning what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:1-2 ESV
We the followers of the way,
The sons of light,
The children of God,
The true children of Abraham by Faith,
We train and equip ourselves to rightly divide the light from the darkness –
And if we have that inward, spiritually distinct separation of Spirit from Flesh that can’t be seen by the eyes of mere men,
Our outwardly visible lives will manifest that same distinct separation from the way of the world — because we walk a different path, a narrow way that doesn’t lead to destruction.
In our life’s testimony to what truly lies within –
In right judgement,
in loving action,
in patient hearing,
in sound teaching,
in brotherly association,
we must discern between what is precious and what is vile,
A believer strives to maintain that same great distinction that the Lord made on this world’s first day between light and dark —
This same border,
boundary,
limit,
and guardrail —
should be drawn in our own lives so that His light might shine brightly and distinctly against the darkness of this fallen world.
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” – John 7:24 ESV
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:17-32 ESV
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:16-26 ESV
Oh, Lord Jesus, be our light throughout the whole day, because your light is the light of men. Amen.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. – Proverbs 14:12 ESV
I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalms 119:102-105 ESV
I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments. – Psalms 119:113-120 ESV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs 1:7 ESV
My son, do not despise the Lord ’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV
The Lord ’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. – Proverbs 3:33 ESV
Harold J. Ballinger 