Because "God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all" (cf. 1 Joh. 1:5). He is, in fact, "the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change."
For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light.
We can imitate him because Jesus "delivered us from the power of darkness" and made us fit "to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light". It is a transformation that we have to continue to embrace. That is why Paul tells says, "Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light" (cf. Rom. 13:12).
No more immorality, impurity, or greed! These are the selfish choices we make when we don't put God first. They are idolatry. Instead, let us "put on love" (cf. Col. 3:14) which binds all of the virtues together in perfect unity.
Jesus shows us the way. Because of his love for us he "handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma." He shows us the greatest possible love. If we imitate him we won't risk being called "Hypocrites!" as we use lesser disciplines as excuses not to love. If God is calling us to bring healing into a situation we use the rules of religion to justify our lack of compassion. Wearing the armor of light like Jesus does gives us the power to give our lives as fragrant offerings to God. We put first things first. We treat the Sabbath rest with due reverence. Yet we realize that even on the Sabbath God may want to set someone free "whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now". We are no longer susceptible to empty arguments. They are revealed as obvious excuses to indulge in selfishness. Instead, our roots go deep. The LORD is able to fill us with light and life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
And when we are filled with life all those nearby share in the fruit. All see it have one more opportunity to glorify the goodness of God. When Jesus heals the woman "the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him." They continue to rejoice if we embrace our call to live as children of the light.
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