How far a little candle throws its beams, shining as a good deed in a naughty world! Jesus commands in Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven. Our Savior desires us to live out our beliefs in the world, so our good actions may be seen and lead others to honor God. Even the feeblest light at midnight holds value, for no sincere and humble Christian lives in vain. This world often loves darkness, where many believe they can hide their deeds—lying, cheating, stealing, and more—without being seen. Yet, Jesus teaches in John 3:20 that those practicing evil hate the light and avoid it, lest their deeds be exposed. In contrast, the light of God, brighter than the sun, reveals all secrets, for nothing is hidden from Him. We have been given His truth to illuminate our lives, so we do not dwell in darkness. Jesus declares He is the true light of the world, and if we believe and follow Him, we will not walk in darkness, as stated in John 12:46. He further instructs in John 3:21 that those who do the truth come to the light, so their deeds may be clearly seen as done in God. We are called to walk in the fullness of His light, practicing what pleases Him. Where His light and truth reveal our shortcomings, we must examine ourselves, repent, and make changes. Through His Word, God guides us to perform deeds of love and kindness, good works that benefit others. As we do so, our little light will shine brightly in this increasingly darkening world.

Walking in the light is central to the journey of God's people as they strive to put away sin during the Days of Unleavened Bread. God is light, with no darkness in Him at all, embodying utter holiness without flaw or sin. As true Christians, we are called to walk in the light, which means living a life of obedience to God's commandments as a continuous way of life. This walk fosters fellowship with one another and allows the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, to cleanse us from all sin. In contrast, walking in darkness signifies living in sin, a state opposed to God's holiness and perfection. It represents a citizenship in a kingdom of darkness, driven by an environment of pride and perversion under Satan's dominion. Those who walk in darkness are separated from God, lacking fellowship with Him, and are blind to His will, often failing to recognize the true nature of sin. If we claim to have fellowship with Him while walking in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. Coming out of spiritual Egypt during the Days of Unleavened Bread symbolizes leaving behind the darkness of sin. We are called to be citizens of God's Kingdom, ambassadors of His way of life, walking in the light. This transition requires us to fight against the powers of darkness, our own human nature, and the influences of the world. Only by walking in the light can we maintain the intimate fellowship with God that we seek, reflecting His character in our lives.

In the beginning, God commanded, "Let there be light," and light bloomed around the earth, banishing darkness so He could work. He saw the light, declared it good, and divided it from the darkness, establishing day and night as part of creation. This separation introduces a primary biblical metaphor of light opposing darkness, with light coming from God, overcoming darkness, being necessary for creation, and being approved by Him as good, while darkness is implied as not good, associated with formlessness, emptiness, and futility. God works in the light, and it is nearly impossible to work well in darkness, as work becomes far more difficult without illumination. Each day, humans are exposed to both light and darkness, facing a decision to work in the light or in the darkness. God desires this distinction to impact us from the start, showing that He is on the side of light, darkness opposes Him, and we are called to choose between them. For the children of Israel, God provided a pillar of fire by night to lead them through the wilderness, ensuring they had light to follow. He was always visible, guiding them toward the Promised Land, never sparing in His providence to give what was necessary. Similarly, for us as a spiritual people, He is our light, perpetually shining His goodness and bidding us to follow. He leads us out of darkness into light, setting us on a path illuminated before us, drawing us toward Him and His Kingdom. Jesus declares Himself the light of the world, the light of men, and the light of life. He emphasizes the need to work and walk in the light, as neither can be done effectively in darkness. A person attempting to work in darkness strays off the path and becomes lost. We must walk in His light, for He is the true light that leads to life. His light, combined with the law, provides the revelation necessary to believe and follow the path to God's Kingdom. As His disciples, we are also called to be lights in the world, reflecting His light through good works so others may see and glorify our Father in heaven. We are to shine consistently, striving to live as children of light by working out our salvation with fear and trembling, ceasing complaints and quarrels, and putting on Christ's attributes. Our witness as lights elevates our responsibility to guide and encourage spiritual growth among brethren, even if only by example. Light represents Christ, the true source who gives light to every man, multifaceted in its goodness and truth. Before conversion, we were darkness, full of sin, but now we are light in the Lord, reborn of light through His revelation, grace, and righteousness. Out of gratitude for being raised out of darkness, we should eagerly walk as children of light, producing what is good, right, and true in all we do. Walking in light means having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, instead exposing them within ourselves by shining light on our character. True light not only exposes but transforms, changing us to become like Christ. We must remember the distinction between what we were and what He has made us, spurring us to repent and grow with His help. Our purpose and destiny are to walk in His presence, in the light, toward eternal life in God's Kingdom.