1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
God is light. This is a purer light than what we know. We think of sunshine. That is a beautiful creation which warms us, grows plants and of which life on earth would be impossible. This light brings life, warmth and illumination.
The light that we know is just the tip of the iceberg. God’s light also brings life warmth and illumination. God’s light has more dimensions. It is spiritual. It permeates our world.
To describe it, I want to speak of it’s absence. There are places where there is oppression and fear. When we are in these places, we are highly anxious. An attack may come from multiple directions and forms. These are people that have been taught the power of intimidation and force. They themselves felt that fear. But to conquer it, they became to kings of it. There is no light of God there.
There are those things that are morally dark. I think of Vegas. All the vices that bring short lived pleasure, but do great damage. I think of the porn industry. More distorted pleasure and more shame. God’s light is not therre.
These descriptions of power and pleasure are oppressive. They damage individuals and relationships. God’s light is not part of those things. Ephesians 5:8-13 says, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.” We aren’t to participate in deeds of darkness. To describe them is disgraceful.
We are to walk as children of light. Life is full of yes’, no’s and plenty of gray areas. I’m referring to moral gray areas. 1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” There is plenty that we can do, but is not edifying. We come away soiled. This isn’t the heart of one who wants to walk in the light. We would benefit by staying in the light. Living in the gray is getting on the periphery. Still in the light, but on the edge.
A phrase in the Ephesian passage is “learning what is pleasing to The Lord.” We know this by scripture, but we also feel it. Ephesians 4:30 says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We feel the oppression when we do this. It’s not our conscience, by a mix of sadness and let down.
Just as sunlight is healthy, so is God’s light. The fruit of the Spirit will be our lives (Galatians 5:22): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,…
The above passage says to “expose them”. This isn’t being a morallist or a tattle tale, but being helpful. It’s like if there is a hazard in the road. We would want to point that out to avoid and accident. I’ve heard people share their testimonies in too much detail. They were instructing people in tempting areas. It was leading people to stumble.
Lord, thank You for Your light. Help us to walk in it.