ARMOR OF LIGHT

By Jemima Rayan

We have heard a lot about the armor of God and how we need to put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. But Rom 13:12 talks about putting on the armor of light which literally means to put on Christ. The world is looking not for one more message or one more religion. But this world is looking for people who are like Christ. Vs 14 says, '…put on the Lord Jesus Christ'.

The Bible declares that we are supposed to be like Christ in this world. This is the very reason why Paul the apostle said in Gal 4:19, 'My little children, for whom I labor in birth pain until Christ is formed in you'. This verse talks about conforming to the likeness of Christ. And God doesn't want to transform just a little bit of our lives and then stop. In fact, He so delights in His children that He desires to renovate our hearts and minds continually, conforming us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Rom 8:29 says, 'For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…'
Phil 1:6 "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." He has a plan so incredible for us that it is beyond our imagination. If God has something that great for us, why settle for anything less?
1 Jn 4:17says, '…as He is so are we in this world'. The Lord has called us to be exactly like Him. 1 Jn 1:5 says, '…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all'. Jesus says in Mt 5:14 , '…You are the light of the world' vs 16 says, 'Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven'.

Is 60:1, 2, 3 says, 'Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising'.

When people see that we are like Christ, then they come to us seeking what we have. It is one thing to be in Christ. But it is another thing for Christ to be in you. The world needs to see Jesus and we may be the only Jesus our neighbors will ever see.

2 Keys for our transformation:

1. Acknowledge that God is our strength:

Depending in His strength is the key. We cannot walk in our own ability because our ability comes from the Lord. Is 52:1 says, '…put on your strength'. Where does our strength come from? It comes from the Lord.
Ps 18:1 "I will love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength in whom I will trust;
Ps 27:1, 'The Lord is the strength of my life'

2. Fellowship with Him:

1 Jn 1:5,6,7 says, 'This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all…'. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Contentment is not resenting our current situation, and find happiness where the Lord has kept us. Complacency is staying comfortable with the attitude we have with no desire to change it-even if it desperately needs changing.
When we become complacent in our relationship with God, we stop growing. It is so dangerous to rely upon ourselves instead of Him. Our self-sufficiency becomes our idol. When this happens, we miss out on the fullness of God's plan for our lives. God did not intend us to be satisfied with such a little portion when the He has life in abundance waiting for us.

Therefore fellowship is so important. It is like a child holding the father's hand and walking. God wants us to constantly keep touch with Him.

May the Lord transform us into the likeness of Christ. Amen.