“No Longer Darkness, But Light”
Text: Ephesians 5:8-14
3-22-2026
In the name of Him who is the Light of the world, dear friends in Christ. Some of my favorite childhood memories were when we went out to visit my uncle Bob’s family on their dairy farm. We had lots of fun there, but if we stayed past dark the ride home was especially memorable. Growing up in the big city, with all the lights that were on 24/7, we never really experienced the true darkness of night. But out in the country we sure did. Back in those days, not many farms had yard lights and even if they did, they certainly didn’t leave them on all night. Well, on our return home from the farm one night our car quit out on a country road. With no headlights and only a few stars in the cloudy sky, it got really dark—pitch dark. Thankfully, we could see a small flicker of light from a farm house off in the distance. So, my Dad headed that way, carefully choosing each step like a blind man, because that’s what the darkness had rendered him as. He managed to safely maneuver his way to the house and use their phone to call a tow truck.
I mention that story because it illustrates what true, total darkness is like and how dramatically opposite it is from the bright light of day. It is an unmistakable difference. And it also emphasizes that walking in that kind of darkness is just about equal to what a blind man would experience. That’s helpful for us as we examine what St. Paul says in our Epistle Lesson.
Did you notice anything strange about the wording of the opening verse? Shouldn’t it say, “At one time you were IN darkness, but now you are IN the light of the Lord?” At first glance we might assume that either Paul forgot those two prepositions or maybe it’s a quirk of the Greek language which leaves them out. I can assure you, neither is true. This wording was very intentional. And it makes this statement by Paul even more powerful. He’s saying that prior to Christ coming into your life you weren’t simply sitting there, passively lost in spiritual darkness. No, he says you were that darkness. You were a part of the darkness which is pure evil. That evil darkness was in every fiber of your being and therefore, it’s who you were. That darkness opposes God’s holiness and is His enemy. And that darkness is what damns our unconverted souls to hell.
This truth about our inborn sinful darkness can help clear up a common misconception about how that darkness totally corrupts every living soul regardless of age. You see, many people in our world, including some Lutherans, hold onto the false belief that babies are born innocent. The Latin phrase for this is “tabula rosa”, which simply means, “blank slate”. And so, the thinking goes that infants are neither good or bad. They’re neutral and it’s only when they encounter sin that these evils get engraved onto the slate of their hearts. The Bible makes it quite clear that this is not true. As David says in Psalm 51, we were corrupt with sin’s darkness from the moment we were conceived in our mother’s womb. So not even the youngest infant is exempt from Paul’s assertion that we were all born as a part of that damnable darkness. And that’s the very reason why little children need God’s grace to be poured out on them in Baptism at such a young age. Their sinful darkness needs to be driven out and replaced by God’s pure Light of holiness.
Numerous places in the Gospels, Jesus is identified as the Light of the World. In today’s reading from John 9, Jesus says this of Himself. But in the Gospels, Jesus also tells us that everyone who trusts in Him becomes a part of that same Light which shines forth from Him. That’s because Christ Himself comes to live within our hearts and He brings with Him the Light of His holiness which infiltrates every darkened corner of our being. Therefore, we become those “Children of Light” that Paul was talking about. And that’s why the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is so important to us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the darkness of our sinful nature is completely removed in those precious waters. In its place, we are filled with the Light of Christ which is poured into us. That’s who you are as a Baptized believer. You’re not just passively sitting in the Light of Christ. No, as St. Paul put it, “Now you ARE light in the Lord.” And that Light shines forth from every fiber of your being.
Or at least it ought to. And that’s the problem Paul is addressing in this 5th chapter of Ephesians. Even though these Christians had received the Light of Christ, some of them were slipping back into their past life and living as if they were filled with darkness again, all the while claiming to still be Christians. But how can that be? Darkness and light are complete opposites. And that’s exactly the point that Paul is trying to make by contrasting the two. Either you are darkness or you are light. You can’t possibly be both.
But here’s the tricky part. How do you know if that light has been replaced by darkness in a person? We can’t see what’s in their heart. As I regularly tell you, my crystal ball for seeing what’s going on in your soul is broken. Seriously, though, this is usually where someone in the conversation chimes in, “That’s right Pastor. Since we don’t have the power to see into a person’s heart then we can’t judge their faith.” But is that true? If you take the time to read through the first 7 verses of this chapter which precede our text, Paul gives us a rather long list of sinful actions which give us an indication of whether a person is filled with evil darkness. And so, he says in verses 11-12 that Christians should have nothing to do with these shameful “works of darkness.” Instead, as he says in verses 8-9, “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.)” Hmmm... that sounds an awful lot like Paul is telling that the deeds of a person will give us strong evidence of what is in control of their heart.
Okay, so let’s put that in practical terms. You can read for yourself specific examples from Paul about the works of darkness, but what does it look like to walk as children of light? Well, Paul would encourage you to first look at your own life rather than others. You alone know what’s going on in your mind and in your soul. However, it will show itself in your words and actions. What’s your prayer life like? Is it just a quick “Come Lord Jesus” before you eat, if even that? Do you read the Word of God daily? What about your worship habits? It’s an unchangeable truth: Christians worship. It’s part and parcel of who we are. We are to joyfully receive God’s Word and Sacrament regularly because we know it feeds the Light of Christ within us. How about your words? Is your mouth filled with foul language and hateful things, or with what’s “good and right and true”? And what about your actions? Do you chase after sinful pleasures rather than “discern what is pleasing to the Lord”? Are you kind, gentle, patient, and helpful with others?
If you’re like me then you have to admit that you’ve failed in most or all of these areas. The deeds of darkness have been more prevalent than your walk as a Child of Light. But don’t despair. God can and will forgive all these sins and any others you have committed. Confess them to Him and then hear His forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. By doing so, you will be immersed once again with that Light of Christ which was first poured into you at your Baptism. And that Light will drive out the darkness that lures you into those shameful deeds. Does that mean you’ll live a perfect life? No. That’s not possible in this sinful world. But you will live a forgiven and sanctified life. Which is exactly what is means to walk as a Child of Light.
Keep in mind, though, Paul says that if we are Light in Christ, then our lives will shine on the evil darkness around us and expose it. So be prepared to not be liked. Just by living as the Light of Christ in our sin-darkened world, you will reveal the darkness that surrounds you. And so, people will mock and ridicule you as a goody-two-shoes or holier-than-thou. You will be perceived as intolerant and judgmental. So be it. That’s how the sinful darkness of this world treated Jesus. It’s nothing new and it’s to be expected. Take comfort and assurance that you are a Child of Light and that Christ has redeemed you. Pray for those who persecute you realizing that they are stumbling in the blindness of their own darkness. Pray that they will see the Light shining from you and the peaceful joy that it brings. Pray that the Lord will use you to attract them to His Light.
Near the end of the Baptismal rite, a lighted candle is given to the newly Baptized person with these words: “Receive this burning light to show that you have received Christ who is the Light of the world. Live always in the light of Christ. And be ever watchful for His coming, that you may meet Him with joy and enter with Him into the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which shall have no end.” You can leave here today, knowing that you are no longer darkness, but light. Walk, then, as a Child of Light shining out in your world so others may see it and give glory to God in heaven. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!