But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

For those in Christ Jesus, there is a goal off in the distance. The goal is a day—the day when Jesus returns. On that day, all things will be made new (Revelation 21:5). On that day, an eternal era of light will be initiated (Colossians 1:12-13). There will be literal light, but there will also be light in the sense of goodness, wisdom, and understanding.

Those in Christ Jesus are on their way to the goal off in the distance. They are on their way to the perfect day of light. Already, the path they have embarked upon is bright like the shining sun. Indeed, as they move closer to the goal, their path becomes brighter and brighter. It is a path that reflects the light of ever-increasing goodness with wisdom and understanding.

All mankind waits for this day, but the wicked wait in darkness, and the day of the Lord will hold no light and joy for them. Instead of a perfect day, it will be a day of darkness and destruction. On that day, they will be cast for all eternity into outer darkness (Matthew 8:12). There will be literal darkness, but there will also be darkness in the sense of evil and ignorance and foolishness.

Although the wicked willingly head down the path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13), they do not know it. They cannot see because they have chosen a path of darkness. It is a path that increases in the darkness of evil, ignorance, and foolishness.

The wicked stumble because they have rejected the light. They fall into all kinds of evil and foolishness and don’t even know why. The just, in contrast, can see the danger and avoid it, because they have God’s Word as a lamp to their paths (Psalm 119:105).

By John Huisman, Friend of Bible League International