What Does it Mean to Come into the Light?

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of Light. (Romans 13:12)

It really is that simple. Come out of the darkness and step into the Light. Jesus says in John 3:16-18:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

People in the darkness will tell you that you’ve gone out of your mind—that you’re following some make-believe nonsense. “The Bible is just a fictional story” they’ll say, “written by a bunch of religious zealots.”

Jesus responds to them in verses 19-21: 

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. 

What person in the darkness wants their work exposed? Even the “religious people” in Jesus’ day wanted to stone him and put him to death because He exposed the darkness of their hearts (John 8:59).

… If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." (Romans 10-9-10)

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9) 

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past; every single one of us has done, said, and thought about some really stupid stuff! In Psalm 107:14, the Psalmist says, “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.” Imagine chains being utterly shattered! That’s what coming to faith in Jesus is like; because He makes you part of His family. John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

So, come into the Light. Declare that Jesus is your Lord and Savior; admit that you are a person who continually sins (like we all do), and ask for His forgiveness. You are now in the Light!

Next steps: Find other people who have declared the same thing as you have. If you need help finding a church, shoot me a note and I’d be happy to help point you in the right direction. A Christ-centered church will provide you with a community of people that will help you along in your journey on this side of Eternity. Like you, they won’t be perfect people; but they will be family.