Why was the need for light?
There was darkness. There was nothingness. There was meaninglessness – Genesis 1:2
Our heavenly Father knew the transforming power of light, hence, He commanded light to be in existence before He continued His work of creation. From that very beginning, to the time of Jesus, the scripture has continued to reveal the importance of light to the whole world (John 1:4-5).
In Isaiah 60:1, the scripture enjoins us to arise and shine because our light has come. This scripture became more expanded in Matthew 5:14 where Jesus revealed that every believer is the light of the world and that that light must not be hidden. This is the main reason Isaiah bids us to arise and shine.
We must endeavor to shine that light into the thick darkness of our time. We must shine our light to neutralize the nothingness and meaninglessness in the souls of men. Our light must shine to reveal the void and vacuum in the hearts of men consequently attracting them to the ultimate Light—Jesus. This was what the Apostles did, culminating in thousands of souls won for Christ (Acts 2:40-41).
It is therefore imperative for us believers to know our privileged position as the representatives of the Light. We are his ambassadors. People who see us must be attracted to the light as they watch our lives. Owing to this fact, we cannot claim to have the light of Christ in us, while we still wallow in the thick darkness of sin and addiction. We must open our lives to the illuminating power of the Light so that we can be purged and refined. Then, we can go forth and shine (1 Peter 2:9).
To shine as light, we must be free from all entanglement of sin and the world (Hebrews 12:1). As we understand that it is not possible for light to blend with darkness, hence, there must be clear distinction between us and the world in conduct and comportment, if we must shine (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Brethren, “arise and shine” is a command! Jesus further emphasized this in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before all men…” We must let the intensity of our light be known and felt both far and near. We must let it shine without any limit. We must let our light shine in a penetrating manner, thus putting us in a good stead to change the world for Jesus.

Modupe Erinoso
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