Walking in the Light

I John 2:7-11

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 says, "Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess". Those two verses are probably as good a road map for life as any. When we are walking with God, and we turn to the right or to the left, we get away from God. If we walk straight, we stay right by His side. Since Jesus is the light of the world (John 8;12), and God is the Father of lights (James 1:7), to walk away from them is to walk away from light and into darkness.

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Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

I John 2:7-11

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Verses seven and eight sound like they are contradictions, but they are not. God's word, His commandments, have been forever. God is eternal (Psalm 90:2) and He does not change (Malachi 3:6), so the truths about Him have been forever and they are "old commandments". On the other hand, it appears new because the reality of the light became visible in Jesus Christ when he walked on the earth and continues as His church lives like they are supposed to in this dark world. That is because the Church is the light in the world now (Matthew 5;14).

John tells us that if we claim to be light in this world, we better act like it. If our actions do not meet our words, then we are liars. What he tells his readers is that if we claim to be light, but we hate our brother (neighbor), there is darkness in us. Love reveals the light in us. Hate on the other hand, reveals the reality of our darkened hearts. It shows the world the sin that abides in us. There is a reality about darkness we must understand, darkness and light cannot exist in the same place. If it is dark, then light is not present. If it is light, then darkness is not present. We may choose to dim the light so that there is more darkness around us, but the fact remains, where the light is, there is no darkness.

That should cause us to pause and reflect. Where is there darkness in our lives? Those areas are the areas into which we need to invite Jesus. This is called "sanctification". When Christ enters those areas, the darkness or sin must flee. This requires God's Holy Spirit to reveal to us where we need more light. Just like John said, the darkness blinds. The Holy Spirit will lead us back to the light. However, if we are to walk in the light, we have to leave the darkness.

One final thought, when we get into eternity, those who are in Christ will live in light. There will be no sun, but Jesus Himself will be the light. As He shines in His glory, there will be no darkness at all. On the other hand, those who are not in Christ, will exist in absolute darkness for all of eternity. There will be no party with friends because it will be absolute isolation and despair forever and ever. I want to be in light!

Father, thank You for being the light of the world, and the light in our lives. While we often drift away from You, and sometimes we resist coming back into the light, You are always there drawing us back to Yourself. Help us to not only walk in the light, but to desire more and more of Your light!