Living in the Light

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Before you read this article, read 1 John chapter 1. Then, if you want to get the full effect of the lesson and experience it the way my Sunday school class did, find a light bulb. Any old bulb will do, whether fresh out of the package or taken out of a lamp.

Now ask yourself, what is a light bulb used for? How does it work? Can you make the bulb shine while you hold it in your hand? Hold it higher, close it in your hand, think hard, smile big, turn it upside down, shake it.

Why is the light bulb not doing what is was made to do? The obvious answer is that it cannot shine on its own; it must have a connection to a power source.

1 John 1:5 tells us that “God is light,” and that there is no darkness in Him at all. The Bible makes clear that living in God’s light is a way of life. It’s a lifestyle, not a path to perfection. While a Christian may at times find himself straying into dark places, if he is truly indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God he will not be able to stay there very long. Indeed, for us born again believers, The Light is our forever home. Spiritually, it is our current dwelling place, but it is also an eternal place of fellowship and forgiveness.

There is Forever in the Light (1 John 1:1-2). The “Word of Life” spoken of in verse 1 is Jesus. John made this clear in the first five verses of his gospel:

John 1:1-5: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The “Word of Life,” Jesus is real. He was seen, heard and touched (1 John 1:1). The effects of His work can be seen now, just as they were seen when He was on earth. He is God the Son, who was there in the beginning, with God the Father. In fact, Jesus took part in creation (John 1:3)! Jesus is light, His light is forever; in His light is eternal life. No one comes to the Father, except by Him (John 14:6), and once you come to Him in genuine repentance and faith no one can pluck you out of His hand (John 10:28-29). Eternal life is in Him alone.

Those who walk in darkness and refuse to turn to His light will spend eternity in darkness. That darkness is called hell. It is real and it is dark, utterly absent of light because it is absent of God. In hell there is not only darkness, but pain, suffering and torment for all eternity. But you have a choice. Come to Jesus; yield to His light. There is forever in the Light.

There is Fellowship in the Light (1 John 1:3-7). When you are living in the Light you have fellowship with the Father and the Son (verse 3). If you do not fellowship with God the Father and God the Son, you are not in the light. You “lie, and do not the truth” (verse 6). Why would one not want to fellowship with God? There is the fullest of joy in true fellowship with the Father and the Son (verse 4).

In the Light there is also fellowship with one another (verse 7). If you are living in the light, fellowshipping with God, then you will have a desire to be with His people. You will love other Christians and want to be around them. You will love church, where you can spend time with fellow believers, and you will want to take opportunities to spend time with them outside of church. If you do not fellowship with the brethren, you are not in the light. You “lie, and do not the truth.” There is fellowship in the light, forever.

There is Forgiveness in the Light (1 John 1:7-10). “…if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (verse 7). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (verse 9). These two verses are not only true on the day you become a believer, but they are true throughout your walk in the Light.

There is forgiveness in the light because there is truth in the light (verses 8 & 10). There is nothing hidden. If you live a life of hidden things, you may want to examine yourself to be sure you are living in the light. There is also forgiveness in the light because there is faithfulness in the light (verse 9). God is faithful to you, you are faithful to Him; you are abiding. You and I will not always be faithful. We are still flawed, but God is trustworthy. He is always faithful, and if we are living in the Light our lifestyle will reflect a faithfulness to Him, even though we stumble from time to time.

There is forgiveness in the light because there is justice, cleansing and righteousness in the light. If you are living in the light, you are righteous because you are clothed in His righteousness (Philippians 3:9), as you have none of your own (Romans 3:10).

Where are you today? Are you living in the light, or are you walking in darkness? If you’re unsure, or you know that you are walking in darkness, I want to help you.

John C. Lawton
John@JohnCLawton.org

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