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At one time you were in the dark. But now you are in the light because of what the Lord has done. Live like children of the light. The light produces what is completely good, right, and true. Find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the acts of darkness. They don\u2019t produce anything good. Show what they are really like. It is shameful even to talk about what people who don\u2019t obey do in secret. But everything the light shines on can be seen. And everything that the light shines on becomes a light. That is why it is said, \u201cWake up, sleeper. Rise from the dead. Then Christ will shine on you\u201d (Ephesians 5:8-14).

I do not claim to be an expert on the Northern Lights. But here are the basic facts as I understand them: particles (electrons and neutrons) from the sun are carried by solar winds towards the earth; they are drawn into the earth\u2019s atmosphere by the magnetic pull of the north pole. Once inside these particles interact with ions in our atmosphere. These interactions are visible to us as the northern lights.

This process is not unlike what happens in the Christian life. All good things begin in God, as the psalmist says, \u201cGod is my light and my salvation\u201d (27:1). James also reflects on this when he wrote, \u201cEvery good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights\u2026\u201d (1:17) and John says simply, \u201cGod is light\u201d (1 John 1:5). All this good light is brought to the earth through Jesus. He said, \u201cI am the light of the world\u201d (John 8:12) and \u201cAnd I will do whatever you ask in my name\u201d (14:13). As the solar winds carry the sun\u2019s particles to earth, so Jesus brings all the light of the Heavenly Father.

The Holy Spirit acts as the magnetic north pole, pulling all the heavenly light into our lives. Jesus taught that the Spirit would remind us of everything he taught (John 14:26) and that the Spirit witnesses about Jesus (15:26). And of course, later, the apostles wrote about the \u2018gifts of the Spirit\u2019 and the \u2018fruit of the Spirit\u2019. All these good things that the Spirit brings to us then interact with the affairs of our lives. And we sparkle with the light of God for all the world to see. We are God\u2019s northern lights.

And we react with a groan. We don\u2019t feel like a light, and we know that we are not very brilliant. Paul knows this. Yet, it is to us doubters that Paul is writing, \u201cWake up, sleeper. Rise from the dead.\u201d \u201cAt one time you were in the dark, but now you are in the light because of what the Lord has done\u201d. \xa0No text is as strong in its explanation of conversion. Because we believe in Jesus, we are in the light. Period. End of story.

Our eyes must always be focused on Christ (Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1). We are in the light not because we glow, but because he shines on us. We must always remember that. Everything begins and ends with him; he is the \u201cAlpha and the Omega\u201d (Revelation 21:6). Therefore, he defines reality. Because we are united with him in his death and resurrection, we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6). He declares that we are \u201cthe light of the world\u201d (Matthew 5:14); therefore, we are.

A life of faith takes God at his word. Our starting point is that we are in the light. The call to the Christian life comes out of this truth.

Thus, after his declaration, Paul issues the call, \u201cLive like children of the light\u201d. Find out what pleases the Lord. When he writes this, Paul assumes two things. One, it is possible to know the will of God and two, it is possible to do the will of God. Of course, not perfectly, he knows that too. But we can get started.

So, there is a question for us: do we pursue the will of God? Is it our goal to know, and do it? How much time and effort do we not spend flirting with darkness? God has created us with a brain. Its time to put it to some good use. God has revealed much about the good life in the Bible. Read it! When you pray, ask God to teach you his will as you go through your day: how should you react to other drivers on the road, to fellow workers on the jobsite, to unexpected hurdles? Remember, if we ask, we shall receive.

Does this sound like too much to expect? Remember, that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Thus go, be light, with this blessing:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:17-21).