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.”

Ephesians 5:8 – 14

Paul, once the strict follower of the Law by which he sought to please God and people, met Jesus and was changed beyond belief.  He who once hated Jesus became his ardent life-long follower.  The famous persecutor of the church became a beloved brother and teacher in that very church that he tried hard to eradicate. The changes that Paul experienced were dramatic.  He described it like once living in darkness, where you bump into things, etc., to living in the light in the Lord where things are seen much more clearly.

Now, Paul says, since we are children of the light, able to see things of the Spirit that were once dark to us (if understood at all) we should walk in that light, live as children of light.

Then in order to drive home his point Paul likens walking in the light to bearing fruit!  That is the fruit of goodness, righteousness and truth – that which pleases the Lord. 

For, Paul wrote, we know that everything exposed by the light becomes visible and everything that is illuminated becomes a light – no darkness at all.  We who are determined to follow the Lamb have nothing to hide.  Everything we think or do is there for all to see, not that it is always appreciated, but because it is the way of light.

Light loves light.  I need to remember that.  Darkness does not like light!