Walk as Children of Light

Ron Drumm

The children of God are given instructions in the New Testament of grace as to how they are to live their daily walk in Christ. The apostle Paul calls upon Christians to be imitators of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). He tells the child of God to walk in love, to walk as children of light, and to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise (Ephesians 5:2,8,15).

Most of us like to take a walk in the morning or at the end of the day. Our walk might be in our own neighborhood or on a trail or even on a treadmill. Yet, it is evident in this Bible text that the word "walk" is being used figuratively to represent "the whole round of activities of the individual's life" (W. E. Vine's Bible Dictionary).

Here are some New Testament uses of the word "walk" in connection to the life of a Christian: walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4); walk according to the Spirit (Romans. 8:4); walk properly as in the day (Romans 13:13), walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7); walk in good works (Ephesians. 2:10); walk in truth (2 John 4); and walk according to His commandments (2 John 6). The above references of the word "walk" are not exhaustive, but they serve to demonstrate a clear picture of the directives given to Christians to help them walk worthy of their calling in Christ Jesus!

Paul describes the child of God as "light in the Lord." He then admonishes all followers of Christ to "walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). The word "light" is being used figuratively to represent all the goodness, righteousness and truth that comes forth from God and His Son (1 Timothy. 6:16; 1 John 1:5; James 1:17; John 1:4,5,9; 3:19; 8:12; 2 Peter 1:19 etc.).

What does it mean to walk as children of light? The answer centers in and upon Jesus and His Word. A child of God reflects the life of Christ and His teaching. Christians are to shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15). Jesus said that He is the Light of the world (John 8:12). We are to walk as children of light by being in fellowship with the Father, with the Son, with the Holy Spirit, and with one another (1 John 1:5-7; Galatians 5:22-28).

Walking in the light means that we "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). Light is the opposite of darkness, like righteousness is the opposite of sin. Our light in Christ makes manifest or reveals the sins around us as shameful and evil, things we wouldn't speak of (Ephesians 5:12,13)!

How do we become children of light? We become a follower of Jesus Christ for He will give us the light (Ephesians 5:14). We cannot reflect what we do not have. All who desire light must come out of darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:12,13)! In Christ "was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).