“We’re putting you on night shift this deployment.” It was my second deployment as a security contractor working for the State Department in Baghdad. Initially assigned to the embassy compound, I was now working in the Operations section of the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center (BDSC), formerly Camp Victory, adjacent to the international airport. I tried not letting my disappointment show. We worked six 12-hour days. Night shift was 1800-0600 (6 PM to 6 AM), which made everything less convenient. The Post Exchange didn’t open until 1000 (10 AM), so you had to stay up later, missing sleep, or try to go before you went on your shift. You try to sleep during the day, but daytime activities make it a challenge.

Peter was a night shift guy as well. Every story we read about his night fishing was a bust. The nets were coming up empty. I’m pretty confident that Peter was successful before Jesus came on the scene, but Jesus had a plan for Peter. He was going to move him from fishing for fish at night to fishing for men during the day. “And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19, ESV). I’m not advocating that there’s anything wrong with working nights. I’m talking about the deeper spiritual principle of moving from darkness to light; from death to life. Peter came to understand that Jesus was calling him out of darkness (imperfect understanding of God and His plan of salvation) and into the light. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9, emphasis mine).

In John’s Gospel, we see John the Baptist introducing Jesus as the light of the world: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). Jesus confirmed that statement many times: “Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12). “We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5). “So, Jesus said to them, 'The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going’” (John 12:35).

Scripture gives us ample justification for “walking in the light.” “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 4:14-16). Walking in the light brings glory to God. Jesus lived that out, demonstrating how we should live. “For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (I Peter 1:21-22, emphasis mine).

Walking in the light is simply living in the power of the Holy Spirit, being guided by the Spirit, and being a true disciple. Remember our definition of a disciple? A disciple is one who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and being on mission (the Great Commission) with Jesus. The Apostle John tells us this: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7). Walking in the light puts us in the place of Holy Spirit empowerment and guidance. When we live like this, God illuminates to people that there is something different about us. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). We’re all vessels of clay — nothing remarkable until we are placed in the hands of the Master Potter.

Walking in the light means confessing our sins and repenting of our actions. This empowers us to live right before Him. The only thing that the enemy can use against you is what you do not bring into the light. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36, KJV). Take your light into the darkness (even on night shift if the lost are there), and you will be “free indeed”! What say ye, Man of Valor?