It has been my experience that the Christian life is one of life-long growth.  There is always a tension.  I am constantly reminded that I am to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12); that I am not to think of myself more highly than I ought (Romans 12:3); and that I am not to enter into the path of the wicked, or to go in the way of evil men (Proverbs 4:14.)  However, I rejoice in the fact that the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18.)  When I reflect upon this verse, the picture I have in my mind's eye is that of the change that takes place when the earth moves from night into day. 

As Christians, we have been translated from darkness into His marvellous light (I Peter 2:9.)  Following our conversion, we begin our journey as spiritual infants through that straight gate and on that narrow way which leads unto life (Matthew 7:14.)  I liken the presence of the light from the sun on this path to our level of understanding at the various stages of this journey.  When we begin, there is a little understanding, as in the faint presence of light in the early morning hours, just before the dawn.  At first, we have only enough light for the next step, and it is difficult for us to place our experience in context.  However, as we continue on this path, we find that the light grows brighter and our understanding increases, as with the dawning of a new day when the sun breaks over the horizon.  Still further down the path - our spiritual adolescence - the sun begins to rise higher in the morning sky, our understanding grows, and we begin to be able to see the spiritual landscape around us more clearly.  Eventually, the time comes, as the sun rises higher and higher in the sky, when we enter into our majority as spiritual young men and women, and we begin to comprehend more fully the truth of God's Word and its meaning for our lives. 

The promise of this verse is that if we continue to travel this path, walking as just men and women in righteousness and truth in the light of God's Word, the light of our understanding will continue to rise until it shines directly overhead in unrestrained brilliance, as the sun at high noon on a cloudless summer day - unto the perfect day.  The sun will never be directly overhead for us in this lifetime.  But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day (II Corinthians 4:16.)  For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (I Corinthians 13:12.)     To God be the glory.