Pro 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Pro 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Pro 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.  Pro 4:19  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.         The difference between good and evil can be compared to light and darkness. Good is always associated with light while evil with darkness. Our Lord says: “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light” (John 3:20, 21a). John says one is either walking in the light or walking in darkness (1 John 1:6, 7). The path of the wicked is gloomy, dark, and dangerous. David says they “are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” (Psalm 14:1). Solomon says they are so foolish that they do not know why they trip and fall (v.19). The apostle Paul, in discussing the ways of the wicked, concludes they are worthy of death (Romans 1:32). He was referring to the eternal damnation in hell fire. Indeed, their ignorance is a great curse for which they choose for themselves. Paul says they know about the judgement of God on their wickedness but they laugh at it and take pleasure in continuing their wicked ways. Conversely, they way of the righteous is a shining light and Solomon says it “shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (v.18). The picture is the beginning of dawn when the sun is just a little red spot at the horizon. But as it rises up from the horizon it becomes brighter and by noon, the full glory of the sun is out. What a description of the life of the righteous! Their lights only get brighter. God wants us to shine brighter each day as we mature as Christians. He doesn’t want us to be just the little red dot at the horizon; He wants us to rise up and shine. Our Lord says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We all walk in varying levels of brightness. Some remain in that little brightness as the dawning sun. In the dawning sun, we still see darkness around us. God does not want us to have a little bit of brightness while darkness still cover the most part of us; we are either walking in the light or in darkness and no middle ground.  John wrote: “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now” (1 John 2:9). It implies there is no middle ground: we may have done well in everything but if we fail in one, we are in darkness. James concurs: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). God wants us to shine brighter each day as children of light. How else would this world ever come out from darkness if we don’t shine? The things we do and the things we say should show people something wonderful that they are not used to seeing. Our friends before our conversion should be wondering: “What’s gotten into you?” Peter wrote: “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:4). A twenty-year old Christian should shine brighter than a two-year old Christian. How else can we set an example for the young converts if they cannot see Christ in us? They know Christ as the light of the world (John 8:12). The young Christians want to have that light of Christ. They want the matured Christians to teach them to shine. Our lives must therefore see constant progress upwards and not downwards. The lamps in our homes will grow dimmer but our Christian lights must shine brighter. Are you shining brighter each day?