Is It Dark In Here?

 “If we claim to have fellowship with [God] and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” – 1 John 1:6

In 1 John 1, the Apostle John shares a beautiful and powerful revelation about God the Father's character. First, John tells us that "God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all" (v. 5). Then he goes on to warn us: “If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth” (v. 6).

 

In two short verses, John presents two contrasts: one that’s obvious, and one that’s not so obvious. In verse 5, John contrasts light and darkness. That one’s obvious. But the more subtle contrast is in verse 6: the contrast between SAYING and DOING. In other words, he’s talking about the contrast between just giving Jesus lip service and actually walking in God’s light.

 

So, what does it mean to walk in God’s light? Well, since God is morally perfect, to walk in the light means to pursue that same moral perfection. We need to be holy as God is holy; to walk in righteousness and justice. To be slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. To love the things God loves and hate the things He hates. To “walk in the darkness” is to do the opposite of all those things.

 

As John declares that “God is light,” he is also declaring that God reveals Himself. So, to walk in the light means to reveal yourself to God as He reveals Himself to you. No skeletons in the closet. No hidden agendas. No hypocrisy. Walking in the light requires you and me to stop playing games with God and with other Christians — to be real, sincere and transparent. We need to step out and say: “God, here I am! The good, the bad and the ugly. I’m done hiding things from You in the dark. I’m stepping into your glorious light. Here am I … warts and all.”

 

Here are three Life Lessons we can draw from this passage:

 

Life Lesson #1: If you truly desire to walk in the light as Christ is in the light, there must be an inseparable marriage between your religion and your morality. If your morals aren’t in the light, guess what? You’re not in the light either. You’re walking in darkness. Sin is always a roadblock to fellowship with God.

 

Life Lesson #2: Walking in the light requires you to honestly confess your sins to God and to at least one other Christian brother or sister. Never forget: It is in God’s nature to reveal Himself to you. But it is in your old sinful nature to hide yourself from Him. But as a Christian, you have a new nature. The old has gone; the new has come. And it is in your new nature to step into the light and be honest with God. Confess ALL your sins to Him. Jesus can’t forgive your sins in the dark. If you want God to forgive you, you must step into the light.

 

Life Lesson #3: When you humbly confess your sins, Jesus will speak to the Father in your defense and will offer His own blood to pay your debt in full. Confess your sins and hand them over to Jesus. You can rest assured that He will be your defense attorney in heaven and the atoning sacrifice for your sins.

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.