Do You Glow In The Dark?

We recently put up glow in the dark stars on my son’s ceiling. The kids love to look at them after we go to bed, seeing all the patterns and designs they make. The sad thing is they don’t glow all night. Their light fades a few hours after the lights are turned off, though the longer they are in light the longer they will glow. How are we like glow in the dark stars, one might ask?

Light is of God

Genesis 1:3-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.

The first thing that God created at the very beginning was light, not the sun, moon and stars, but light. God is light and in Him is no darkness. He is pure, and light comes from Him.

John 8:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

The purpose of the light is to expose the darkness. Darkness refers to sin, the life of the world and those apart from God. Darkness leads to death, light leads to eternal life.

Reflect the Light

Ephesians 5:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

We all began in the darkness, unable to escape it, but God has called us out of the darkness into the light so that we can live in and by the light and spread His light to the rest of the world. We are to reflect His light to those around us. But like the glow in the dark stars, we must first be in the light in order to reflect it. We have to absorb His light before we can shine. That requires spending time in it, with Him, absorbing Him; reading the Bible, praying, thinking about Him and meditating on His Word. The more we are like Him the more we will reflect Him.

Romans 2:19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

[we] are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness

Return to the Light

John 12:46 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

No matter how much time we spend in the Light, once we leave it we begin to fade. Practically speaking we cannot spend all of our time in church or reading the Bible, so we have to come back regularly and frequently otherwise we will cease to give off His light. We will become dark again. The more we are in the world, away from God, the more like the world we will become. Unlike a clay pot, which starts as soft clay and becomes hard once it has been fired and never returns to the soft clay, we can return. We are like those we are around, if God and godly people, media and thoughts are not the majority we will become like the world. I am not talking about salvation, but our witness and character, who we are like. God did not bring us to the light so that we can remain in or return to the darkness. We are to stay in the light. And we have to return to the light regularly in order to keep reflecting the light.

2 Corinthians 4:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Resistance to the Light

John 3:19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

The trouble is that the darkness does not willingly give way to the light. The light chases the darkness away, but when the light fades darkness comes back. This is true in the world and in ourselves. It is a constant battle. Those who are in the dark do not want the light because it reveals them as they truly are, evil and sinful. They are opposed to the light that is in us and will fight that, trying to get us to return to the darkness with them. Satan is constantly working to get the dark influence in us to win over. Our sin nature will never go away this side of heaven, we are constantly at danger of yielding to it. And the dark in us is resistant to the light because it is then exposed. The light brings judgment. That is why it is so important to stay in the light, and to return to it as soon as we can after we’ve left. That is the only way we can fight the darkness and keep it from overtaking us.

John 12:35-36 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”

Romans 13:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Are you in the light? Do you glow in the dark?