“Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day; we are not of the night nor of darkness.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:5)
In this verse, the Apostle Paul directs his words to the Thessalonian disciples of Christ. He employs the imagery of light and darkness to convey a very strong spiritual truth. The verse proclaims that those who follow Christ are “children of light” and “children of the day.” This signifies that sincere followers of Christ are spiritually illuminated and belong to the kingdom of God. They tread the path of righteousness, truth, and moral purity, in contrast to the darkness of sin and spiritual ignorance so prevalent in the world.
This verse also stresses the significance of living in strict accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we uphold the aspiration to be “children of the light” by adhering to the Commandments, living with integrity, and striving to become more Christ-like in our daily lives. This demonstrates a significant distinction between the world and the kingdom of God, where Christ’s adherents are encouraged to be a positive influence and bear witness to His light in a world that is full of spiritual darkness.
In summation, the verse communicates the idea that as followers of Christ, individuals are called upon to live in a manner that mirrors the light and truth of Christ and the Gospel, as opposed to the spiritual darkness that prevails outside of God’s influence. The world is replete with darkness and adversaries of God. As James expressed, we must keep ourselves “unblemished from the vices of the world” because “whosoever … will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 1:27; 4:4)
