GOD IS LIGHT

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that GOD IS LIGHT and in Him is no darkness at all” – 1 John 1:5

Our Prophetic Adventure in the Perfections of Light begin on the note that: “GOD IS LIGHT and in Him is no darkness at all” (1Jh.1:5b). John heard, saw, beheld, and touched the reality of the Word of Life that GOD is PURE LIGHT: there are no degrees to His holiness (v.1). He is perfectly holy. And the answer to sinful humanity connecting with the holy God could only be found in the shed blood of Jesus! John simplified the Gospel message as a contrast between living in the light and dwelling in darkness. As God is Light and the darkness of sin cannot exist in Him, the light exposes sin so that it can be dealt with. Light is vital to life. Light sustains life. Light reveals what is hidden. Light can affect attitude and influence joy.

God is Light! John didn’t just say God creates light or that God provides light. Instead, he went beyond the natural by affirming that GOD IS LIGHT. Light is intrinsic in God’s nature. His Glory radiates outward as light that reminds us of His truthfulness, transparency, and purity. In Him, there can be no speck of uncleanness or dross of darkness at all.

God is Light! Being light is not the same as being in light. God doesn’t simply dwell in light; He is Light. In this context, light is a Biblical metaphor for righteousness; meaning that God is goodness and holiness incarnate. His spiritual status is not a result of a certain behaviour pattern; rather, He engages in righteous behaviour because of who He is – Light! His acts reflect His nature. He cannot choose to sin any more than you or I can choose to breathe water instead of air.

God is Light, and just like the absence of light can dampen the soul, the further one draws away from God, the more downcast the soul becomes, lacking both the fellowship and joy that John alluded to. Sin’s assignment is to break fellowship with God, but we can have joy because through Jesus Christ, we are purified in order to be restored to fellowship with God. This compels us to overflow with joy, impacting our relationships with others, and creating a communion with other believers: “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (vv.3-4).

God is Light, but in fallen humanity dwells the darkness of sin. He who is Light therefore invites us to turn over our lives to Him for cleansing: “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (v.7). This is a basic part of the Gospel message that we not only must proclaim, but truly live and act upon. Although God does not excuse our sin, He anticipates it and accounts for it. He has made provisions to deal with sin (vv.8-10). God is righteous when He forgives in that He has atoned for sin with the death of His Son who paid the price (Rom.6:33). Ours is to examine ourselves, identify those areas of darkness in our lives that cannot exist with God, cast them aside through repentance, and receive forgiveness and cleansing by the Blood of Jesus.

This is what it means to become God’s children and partakers of His nature, living the fullness of life in Christ (2 Pet. 1:4). Whereas we do not become completely separated from sin, as He is; we learn how to not “walk in darkness” (v.6), but “in the light as He Himself is in the light” (v.7). As we choose this pattern of life that aligns with His nature, the transformation by the Word, communion of the Spirit, and fellowship or spiritual connection with the saints, empower us perpetually.