Ephesians 5:8, 11, 14 NLT‬
[8] “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!..
[11] Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them….
[14] for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Since the Hebrew people did not understand life in abstract concepts, (expressed in their language), we must understand the meaning of the symbols, ‘darkness’ and ‘light’, from their perspective.

Hebrew people would have asked, not, “What are the properties of light?” but, “What does light do?” Light reveals and exposes. Light shows us what is around us but it also exposes what darkness hides.

God is light, and the source of light. Whatever God is and whatever comes from Him, flows from His character. We know that God is good. Therefore, light must be connected to His goodness. Light for us, then, would refer to the qualities of goodness that, in His children, reflect who He is.

‭Genesis 1:3-5 NLT‬
[3] “Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [4] And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. [5] God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.”

‭John 1:4-5 NLT‬
[4]” The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

Natural light came from God in the beginning, separating day from night, but natural light also symbolises something more. Let’s look again at Genesis 1:4.

What is this ‘light’ to which Genesis and John refer? Since the sun, moon, and stars were only created on the 4th day, light in Genesis 1:4 must mean more than mere physical light.

In his prologue to his gospel, John picks up the theme, describing the Son, Jesus, as God’s instrument for bringing ‘light’ into the darkness in the world, adding the dimension of enlightenment.

So, how can we understand the meaning of this symbol of ‘light’ that Paul uses in Ephesians 5?

Many verses in the Old Testament give us clarity. Psalm 119, in particular, is full of references to God’s Word as the source of our ‘light’, our understanding.

‭Psalms 119:130 NIV‬
[130] “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

‘Simple’ here can mean ‘open-minded’.

Psalms 119:105 NLT‬
[105] Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

In God’s Word, we find our source of knowledge and understanding for living lives that reflect the nature and character of God. The Bibles tells us, who God is, who we are, and what we need to live clean lives by obeying His Word.

‭Psalms 119:1-3 NLT‬
[1] Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. [2] Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. [3] They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.

‭Psalms 119:9 NLT‬
[9] How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.

‭Psalms 119:35 NLT‬
[35] Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

God’s Word is also truth.

‭John 17:17 NLT‬
[17] Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

‭1 John 1:7 NLT‬
[7] But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Since Jesus is God’s Word in person, He always, only, ever lived in obedience to God’s Word.

‭John 8:28-29 NIV‬
[28] “So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. [29] The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

His life on earth shows us how to live in the light, and His Spirit gives us the power to do so.

John 8:12 NLT‬
[12]”Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 1:4-5 NLT‬
[4]”The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

In simple terms, then, with Jesus as our model, and the Holy Spirit as our source of power, we can live by the instructions in God’s Word rather that by our sinful desires.

Once we understand the meaning and source of the light by which we are to live, we can get to grips with the meaning of ‘darkness’.

Physical darkness is not the opposite of light as though darkness has a physical source as does light. Darkness is the absence of light. When we remove the source is light, we have darkness.

So also, when Jesus is absent from people and their behaviour, their lives display darkness, all the wickedness and evil that darkness hides.

Paul urged his readers, then, to live their lives in line with the teachings of God’s Word (with Jesus as their model and mentor). In this way, their lives would expose the wickedness of those who don’t live by the Word.

‭Ephesians 5:1, 2 NLT‬
[1] Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
[2] Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”

‭Ephesians 5:7-11 NLT‬
[7]”Don’t participate in the things these people do. [8] For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! [9] For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. [10] Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. [11] Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.”

Once again, we must remember that Paul was writing to ex-pagans who once lived in the darkness of sin without Jesus. The message Paul brought them enlightened them to the cause and consequences of their wickedness, and gave them the only solution that would free them from sin and death. Their new lives of obedience to Jesus were the evidence that they were new people inside.

So, live in the light!