Choosing the Light
Filling Our Lives With What Draws Us Closer to Christ
Every autumn, as Halloween approaches, store shelves begin to fill with decorations that celebrate ghosts, monsters, witches, and things meant to frighten us. For many people, it is simply a harmless tradition. Yet over the years, I have come to realize that the challenge for Christians is much bigger than a single day on the calendar.
Darkness rarely arrives, announcing itself.
More often, it slips quietly into everyday life.
Sometimes it comes through entertainment. Sometimes through music. Sometimes, through attitudes, conversations, or habits that slowly shape the way we think. A catchy melody can lodge itself in our minds long before we stop to consider the message hidden beneath it. Before long, we find ourselves humming words that celebrate things we would never intentionally teach our children or grandchildren.
Jesus understood that what enters our hearts eventually shapes our lives.
He taught:
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light." — Matthew 6:22
Jesus was not simply talking about eyesight. He was teaching about influence. What we continually allow into our minds affects our thoughts, our attitudes, and eventually our actions.
The world often encourages us to blur the line between light and darkness. Things that once would have troubled the conscience are now presented as entertainment. Values that conflict with God's design are often celebrated as normal. If we are not careful, our hearts can gradually become comfortable with things that move us further from Christ.
The answer is not fear.
The answer is light.
Jesus did not spend His ministry obsessing over darkness. He spent His ministry shining light. Wherever He went, truth replaced confusion. Hope replaced despair. Peace replaced fear. People who encountered Him were invited into something better.
That is still His invitation today.
As we grow in Christian maturity, we learn that choosing the light is not merely about avoiding harmful influences. It is about intentionally filling our lives with things that draw us closer to God.
What we read, watch, or listen to matters.
The conversations we entertain matter.
The influences we welcome into our homes matter.
Not because we are trying to live by a long list of rules, but because our hearts are precious. The more we fill them with truth, beauty, gratitude, kindness, and the teachings of Jesus, the less room remains for things that pull us away from Him.
I have often noticed that homes tend to reflect what fills them. Some homes feel anxious and chaotic. Others feel peaceful and welcoming. The difference is rarely found in the furniture or the decorations. More often, it is found in what the family chooses to cultivate day after day.
Light grows where it is welcomed.
The good news is that following Jesus does not leave us focused on what we are giving up. Instead, it helps us discover something better. A peaceful home. A clear conscience. Meaningful conversations. Joy that does not depend on entertainment. Music that encourages rather than corrupts. A family atmosphere where Christ is welcome.
The Christian life is not about hiding from the world.
It is about walking through the world while carrying the light of Christ.
And when enough people do that, darkness has a hard time finding a place to stay.
Footsteps in Practice
The Light Filter
This week, pay attention to one form of media you consume regularly—perhaps a playlist, a television program, a podcast, or a social media feed.
Ask yourself a simple question:
"Does this draw me closer to the character of Christ, or further away from it?"
You may discover that a few small changes create more peace than you expected.
A Thought to Carry This Week
Jesus did not call His followers to fear the darkness.
He called them to shine the light.
