Walk In The Light
It’s interesting that children have a natural fear of the dark. It is the reason I have night lights in my home, so that when my grandsons spend the night with us, they will not be afraid. In 1 John 1:5–10; 2:1–6 the apostle tells us that sin is darkness and we should want to walk in the light of God. God cares for us and promises to forgive us so that we can remain in His light and not have to live eternally in the dark consequences of our sins. And when we do sin, we have Jesus’ advocacy and sacrifice cover us and keep us in right standing with God. I pray that you will not allow the shame and sorrow over your sins to relegate you to living in darkness. But that you would allow Jesus’ sacrifice and advocacy before God, keep you walking in His light. Amen
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)
The apostle John wants us to understand and equate that sin is darkness. And as believers, we want to walk in the light that is God. Failing to confess sin or deceiving ourselves that we do not sin, leaves us to walk in darkness. But, the good news is that God is faithful to forgive our sin when we confess it. Therefore we have no reason to walk in darkness because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. There is no need to deny or try to hide our sin from God. Denying or trying to hide our sin, means that we don’t believe God’s promise (making God out to be a liar) that He is faithful to forgive.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
John stated that as children of God, we should not want to sin. However, since we have been born into sin and we still live in our flesh, the reality is that we do sin. But Christ, who is righteous and without sin, is our advocate before God for mercy and our atoning sacrifice to cover our sins. And His sacrifice is sufficient, not just to cover our sins, but to cover the sins of everyone who calls upon Him in faith.
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-6)
Living our lives like Jesus did, means that we seek and obey God‘s will. True love sacrifices and obeys the will of God. To know God is to love God. And if we are unwilling to be obedient to him, then we do not really know him and we do not love him. We may claim to know God, and to love him, but it is by our actions and by the fruit that we produce that our true heart is revealed. Do your actions and your fruit align with your claim to know and love God?
Do we sin? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. To deny that is to continue to walk in darkness away from God’s merciful light. We have God’s promise that when we do sin, He is faithful to forgive. And we have our faith in Jesus that He will advocate for us when we fall, asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness, and offering His sacrifice as the atonement for our sins. And because we have all of this as children of God, we have no reason to shrink back into darkness. So, let us avoid stumbling around in the darkness of sin and forever walk boldly in the light of God.
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
“Walk in the light, beautiful light. Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright. Shine all around us by day and by night. Jesus the light of the world.”
~ Lyrics from Jesus, The Light Of The World
