Walking in the Light
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
John, who also wrote the Gospel of John, has already said that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and will say that God is love (1 John 4:8). John is making the point that Jesus, God’s Son, is the prefect representative and image of God. In Hebrews we read:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
To understand the power of this truth we have to bring into focus that the god of this world has blinded the hearts and minds of the non-believer (1 Corinthians 4:1-6). Because they are blind to the truth they will come up with very dark thoughts and philosophy. We should not be surprised by the darkness of man’s plans, purposes, and/or practices. But, Jesus brings light to man. In the transfiguration (Matthew 17) we read that in front of John, James and Peter, Jesus was transfigured into light. His garments were white like light and His face shone like the Son. This recalls the story of Moses, who after coming down from the mountain after spending time with God, he had to cover his face because it shone like light. What does this mean for us? It means that when we have Christ dwelling in our hearts we can be assured that we have light, as well. We do not walk in the darkness of men. Through the Spirit of God we are being enlightened:
... having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Psalms 119:105
(ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
(ESV) For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
God does not want us to walk in darkness. He wants us, by faith, to walk in the light. Jesus Christ came to give us that light. John goes on to say that one of the evidences of walking in light is fellowship in with others, who also walk in light. God wants His community to walk together in light:
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 cleanses us from all sin.
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