by Leigh Ann Dilley on October 20, 2025
Whenever people mention their favorite season, many, myself included, place fall at the top of the list. After the heat of summer, the days grow blissfully cooler, the leaves turn beautiful colors, casting new scents into the air. Fall is a season of new beginnings, as new programs start up. Summer nights turn into evenings by a cozy fire, complete with low lighting and, of course, pumpkin lattes. The only hard thing about fall is that, as the days become shorter, the darkness of night comes earlier, and we spend more time in darkness. If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you know what I’m talking about. The treatment for SAD includes, but is not limited to, “light therapy.”
Interestingly, the Bible offers its own “light therapy.” The Holy Bible opens with the Spirit of God hovering over the darkness of deep waters, signifying chaos. What is the first thing God creates? Light! How does He create light? He speaks! (Gen. 1:3) From this first act of creation, we get the sense that light is important. God created light and then separates light from darkness, making them distinct. Light brings order.
Later, Jesus also speaks and offers another important distinction to us concerning light. In John 8:12, He says, “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.” This is one of Jesus’s statements when He tells us who He is. Here, He unquestionably tells us He is the light of the world. Jesus also says His light leads to life for those who believe in Him. From this statement, Jesus fulfills many Old Testament prophecies, like Isaiah 9:2, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned,” and 49:6b, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth,” to name a few. Light brings life to those who believe.
The theme of Jesus being light and life runs throughout the Bible, and oddly, at the other bookend of the Bible, in Revelation 21:23, it says one day, when Jesus lives among us, we will have no need of the sun or the moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light because Jesus, who is the Lamb as well as the light, will be with us.
To appreciate light, we need to understand darkness. Darkness creates fear of light because we have become comfortable in the dark. Darkness hides many things, like sin and shame. John 3:19: “The light has come into the world, but men love the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.” We enjoy the false sense that our sin and shame are hidden from others. It is not, however, hidden from God. Colossians 1:13-14: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” When the light of Christ shines in our darkness of sin, we are freed from it. And just as God showed the Israelites in the desert where to move next by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire (light) by night, He will do the same for us through the guiding light of His Word and the Holy Spirit. Why not let God shed some light into the areas of your life that you are struggling with?
Since we are image-bearers of God, if Jesus has light, that means we also have light. Jesus says in Matt. 5:14, “You are the light of the world – like a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” How then do we bring this light to others?
Whereas carrying the light of Christ into a dark world may feel like a wearisome, heavy burden, I don’t think that is what Jesus meant it to be. After all, Jesus said to come to Him if you are weary and heavily burdened, and He will give you rest. He says, “take my yoke upon you,” which means we are meant to share in the work He is doing, but He doesn’t stop there. He says He will teach us how to do it because He is humble and gentle at heart. Jesus is in the yoke with us, which means our share of the burden is light. Jesus does the heavy lifting.
Since our burden is light, sharing the light of Christ might be simpler than we think. How about being a light to whoever or whatever is right in front of you? That may look like a kind greeting to a stranger, helping someone in trouble, taking dinner to a neighbor who is ill or alone, taking time to talk to a friend or family member in need. Any time we obediently put others before ourselves, we are the light of Christ.
Another way to share the light of Christ is to know our own testimonies and make a habit of sharing the Gospel. These two ways of sharing light go together because many people are fearful of standing up for Christ, as they could suffer for it or be challenged in their faith. Therefore, practicing these two skills may be helpful.
1 Peter 3:14-16: “If you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. Don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do so in a gentle and respectful way. …remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”
It is important to know and share our own testimonies because, in doing so, we are obedient in sharing God’s light. Testimonies are individual experiences, so people tend not to argue about personal experiences. Plus, everyone loves a story. Nonbelievers will have a hard time telling you that your experience wasn’t real or didn’t happen.
Equally important is learning how to share the Gospel. Disciples of Christ are told multiple times throughout the Bible to share the Gospel. So, let’s be obedient and do it. Keep in mind, we are not responsible for saving anyone. The Holy Spirit is more equipped to do that. We are seed sowers. The Holy Spirit tills the soil before us and waters the seeds after being planted. Our job might be better thought of as creating curiosity. We want nonbelievers to be curious about Jesus and salvation. When people are curious, they start asking questions. This is a sign the door has been opened, and a person may be getting ready to become a Gospel-sharing, light-bearer themselves.
Go light the world!
Here is a lovely song about carrying your candle of light into the darkness.
