Are You Walking in the Light?

 “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 1:7

In the first chapter of the Bible, the Word of God tells us what God created on the first day of creation. It wasn’t plants or birds or animals. It wasn’t dry land or water. In Genesis 1:3, God said, “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” And if you turn to the final chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22, the Apostle John is given a clear vision of heaven: “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light” (v. 22:5).

At the beginning of the Bible, light has a prominent place in creation of this world. And in the end of the Bible, light has a prominent place in the creation of the new world: heaven. So, it shouldn’t surprise us too much when we read the Apostle John’s words in 1 John 1:5: “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” 

By declaring that “God is light,” the Apostle John is declaring that we serve a holy God. He is morally perfect. John is also declaring that by nature, our holy God reveals Himself. His character traits are on full display around the world. And never in the history of the world was God’s character more on display than in the life of Jesus Christ. Then, in 1 John 1:7, John gives us a beautiful description of Christ’s followers: Christians are those who are walking in the light.

But are you and I walking in the light of Jesus Christ? In 1 John 2, John teaches us how to find out. To learn whether you are walking in the light, ask yourself these three vital questions:

The Obedience Question: Am I obeying Christ’s commands, or am I just giving Him lip service (1 John 2:3-6) Never forget what it means when you call Jesus “Lord.” You are calling Him your Master. So, don’t call Him “Lord” unless you are obeying Him as your Lord. Don’t call Him “Lord” on Sunday and rebel against His commands on Monday.

The Love Question: Have I turned my back on all bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness and hate in order to love the people around me with a Christlike love? (1 John 2:7-14) There are far too many Christians who hold on to hate. They have one foot in the light and one foot in the darkness. Brothers and sisters, don’t be like that. A wise man once said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to realize the prisoner was yourself.”

The Hunger Question: Do I crave the temporary pleasures of this world, or am I hungry for God and the things of God? (1 John 2:15-17) There’s a good chance that some sins need to be rooted out of your life. Perhaps certain lusts of your flesh or lusts of your eyes. Maybe a root of pride that drives you to try to impress people instead of simply living to please God. 

If we’re honest, every one of us should be able to identify some areas in our lives where we’re not walking completely in the light. If your obedience, your love or your hunger is not where you know it should be, give it to God. Go to Him in prayer today.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services: in person at 9 a.m., or online at 10 a.m. on YouTube or Facebook. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.