I am a child of the light.

Because I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am a child of the light. Paul made this bold statement to the Thessalonian Christians while he was telling them to be awake, aware and encouraged as they waited for the Lord Jesus to 1 thes 5 5 return. 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” Throughout scripture light has been associated with God- He created light (Genesis 1:3), He is our light and our salvation (Psalm 27:1), He will be our everlasting light (Isaiah 60:19) and Jesus proclaimed himself to be the light of the world on multiple occasions. John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Being a child of light is a privileged place. It is a state of being that is wholesome, pure and does not have a shadow of darkness anywhere. The opposite of a child of light would be a child of darkness. Satan and sin are associated with darkness, and it is a state that leads to death. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Without Jesus we are walking in darkness and are not guided by the ‘light of life’.

I love that Paul tells us in verse 8 above “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” We have salvation and the hope of eternity protecting our thinking, thoughts and future. We are to take this place of light seriously and be on guard, awake and aware of the enemy who would love to lure us back into the darkness. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” We don’t need to be afraid but on guard, always standing firm with the Lord.