Living in the Light

Rev. Bradley J. Stevens
Mon, June 1, 2009

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 yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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. I John 1:5-7 (NIV)

In his first epistle, John records for us that God is Light. But what does that really mean for us?

God is Light, and in the presence of light there is no darkness in which to hide. No darkness in which sin can find repose. No darkness in which falsehood goes undetected. No darkness in which one can enjoy the bliss of ignorance.

His light exposes sin and brings condemnation, allowing no deception; we certainly cannot deceive Him, neither can we any longer deceive ourselves.

How may we discern whether we have come into the light?

When we are uncomfortable with sin in our own hearts.

If we can harbor secret sin without conscience or conflict within ourselves, then Light has not found us. When Light shines into our hearts, it will expose and condemn. When the Light of God condemns us, we will not resist its call to cleansing and repentance, for darkness will not abide in the light.

Of course, we know that whenever a light shines there may be shadows. If anything will stand in the way of the Light to obscure it, it is likely to be we who block it ourselves.

Have you ever had a night when you lay in bed as the light of a full moon flooded the room? I recall nights in our master bedroom when the full moon would almost make sleep impossible as it traced its arc through the night sky to shine directly into my eyes. When I turned my back to it, I could endure it, even as I continued to see where the Light landed. We have a curtain now, and the trees in the garden have matured, so that we are usually oblivious to the brightest moonlight.

Sadly, many of us manage to keep the Light of God outside our hearts. As He shines into our lives, we turn our backs, we hang curtains, we close our eyes, and we feel content to ignore the Light and even become comfortable ignoring Him.

“There is none so blind as he who will not see.”

When we choose to ignore the Light of the World and leave Him knocking at the door of our hearts (Rev. 3:20), we are able to resist the cleansing effect of exposure. I’ve seen people with their mouths stretched wide with tools and frames as laser lights are focused on their teeth to whiten them. Would it be as effective if their mouths were closed or only partially open?

When someone comes to my door with whom I would like to spend time, I don’t usually keep the door closed. Our front door is all glass, so I can see a visitor clearly, and he or she can see me. But talking through three layers of glass would not be much of a visit. We couldn’t shake hands or embrace or have any intimate conversation. What we would have would be a pale representation of a relationship.

Just because we hear Jesus knocking at our door does not mean that we are in relationship with Him. Just because His Light shines to reveal our sin does not mean that we have let Him in to cleanse us.

If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. (1:7) John means that we will have fellowship with God, Who abides in fellowship with His children.

When He allow Him to come into our hearts, and when His Light floods our inmost beings, we will be unable to resist fellowship with Him.

And when we have fellowship with Him, we will be unable to resist fellowship with the Body of Christ, the church. In fellowship with him, we will be irresistibly drawn to other believers – no more excuses – as He cleanses from all unrighteousness and purifies us from all sin.

So when His Light exposes your sins and sinful attitudes, acknowledge what it reveals and allow Him to remove it. Then you may live and walk in the Light, not just abiding by rules but living in true righteousness as credited to you by the blood of Jesus.

So, walk in the Light. Walk in righteousness. Walk in peace. Walk in relationship, the Perfect with the imperfect!

And: Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:16)

God bless you,
Pastor Brad

©2009 Bradley J. Stevens