Jn 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Jesus pretty plainly states here that those who follow him shall not walk in darkness. Not “should” not walk in darkness, *shall* not walk in darkness…it is not optional. This is the mark of a person who is truly following Christ, they are absolutely committed to putting off the deeds of darkness and walking in the light. 

In Eph 5:8-9 the Apostle Paul says: For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: *walk as children of light:* For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.

So this is the question anyone claiming Christianity needs to ask themselves: Is there any darkness in my life, any….at all? Am I dabbling in the deeds of darkness….ever, at any time? Is there any activity that I give myself to, even if it’s only periodically, that I know in my heart and conscience, is dark and would not meet with approval before a Holy God. We need to be honest with ourselves.

We need to examine ourselves, are there any “areas” of darkness in our lives. I’m not talking about something we might inadvertently stumble into like perhaps an unkind reaction in the heat of the moment, I’m talking about any sinful deeds or behaviors that we regularly return to. If there is, then we are walking in darkness.

The Apostle Paul lists a few of those deeds of darkness in 1 Cor 6: sexual immorality (adultery, pornography, extramarital sexual activity, etc.), idolatry (exalting anything above God), covetousness (greediness, the pursuit of money and wealth), drunkenness (alcoholism, drugs, mariguana, etc.), thievery (extortion, dishonesty), things like these.

The apostle Paul made it very clear in Gal 5:21, that those who “do” such things will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. We can call ourselves Christians all we want and claim we are “trusting Jesus for salvation” but if we continue walking in darkness and unrighteousness, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Each and every one of us who call ourselves by His name must be 100% committed to expunging the deeds of darkness from our lives and cooperating with the Holy Spirit….if we are, then God will work in us and with us to see it through, if we aren’t then He won’t work in us…it’s as simple as that. 

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Ph 2:12-13).

Jesus makes an important admonishment about this in Jn 12:35  – Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.

We have to be careful to not allow any deed of darkness, any particular sin, to remain and take root. If we allow it, then darkness will “come upon us” and can eventually overtake us. If we continue in it, ignoring the warning of our conscience, then we will eventually fail the grace of God (Heb 12:15) and seal our fate.

The Apostle John said: If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 Jn 1:6-7).

So, one of the important conditions of the blood of Jesus continuing to cleanse us from sin is that we walk in the light and are committed to it.

Jesus said that if our eye is single, focused above, allowing the Holy Spirit to refine us and purify us, then our whole body will be FULL of light. It’s that light that we are supposed to shine before men.

Matt 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  

The word “good” means morally valuable and virtuous, so it goes beyond mere “works of service” but down to the core of who we are and how we conduct ourselves in daily commitment to godliness and putting off the deeds of darkness. This is what it means to walk as children of the light, this must be our testimony as Christians.