The church as stewards of the mysteries and manifold grace of God has the responsibility to portray the life which is synonymous to that of the kingdom of God. This world in which we live is under the control of two diametric kingdoms, one is known as the kingdom of light, and the other the kingdom of darkness.
Jesus Christ is the Ruler of the kingdom of light, whilst Satan is the ruler of the kingdom of darkness. The irony of truth is, we were all born in the kingdom of darkness and are being translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light only when we believe and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Therefore, we have been admonished to, "give thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:12-14).
Jesus Christ is the light who gives light to everyone who comes into the world, but it is only to as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13).
Now light is synonymous to truth, and it is manifested in the life of Jesus Christ and the words He spoke. According to the apostle John, “In Him (Christ) was life, and the life was the light of men.” Jesus Himself said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” “I have come as a light into the world: that whoever believes in Me, should not abide in darkness” (John 1:4; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).
The world’s condemnation is that, “The light who is Jesus Christ has come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:19-21).
Walking in the light or walking in truth is so vitally important that unless the church is walking in the light as Christ Himself is in the light there is no fellowship between believers and with the Father.
The apostle John wrote: This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you; God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by 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 1:5-7).
The world’s condemnation is that, “The light who is Jesus Christ has come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:19-21).
Walking in the light or walking in truth is so vitally important that unless the church is walking in the light as Christ Himself is in the light there is no fellowship between believers and with the Father.
The apostle John wrote: This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you; God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by 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 1:5-7).
Basically, life is a choice we all have to make, whether to remain carnally minded, be citizens of the kingdom of darkness and living in lies, or be spiritually minded, becoming citizens of the kingdom of light and living in truth.
The choice is ours.
Lucius Joseph
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