WALK IN THE LIGHT

“But if we WALK IN THE LIGHT as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…” – 1 John 1:7a

To walk in God’s Way is to WALK IN THE LIGHT: “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” (1 Jh.1:7). In this epistle, John made the message of Christ the basis of all significant Christian fellowship: “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us” (v.3a). There are three parts to John’s thesis. First, verse 5 gives the message of Christ that John had heard: “that GOD is LIGHT and in Him is no darkness at all” – the theological foundation. Second, verses 6 and 7 describe its practical application: “WALK in the LIGHT”! Third, verses 8–10 provide a necessary clarification of the meanings of verses 6 and 7, in order to avoid their possible misinterpretation as sinless perfection.

GOD is LIGHT means that God is Truth: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (v.6). He is the Source and Measure of all that is true. Nothing is truly understood until it is understood in the Light of God. Moreover, light is priceless: It helps us to avoid danger and to reach what and where we are after. One who walks in the darkness is liable to stumble over obstacles. Darkness is full of threat. It frustrates one’s ability to attain life’s goals. But light exposes dangers and frees us from the lurking power of darkness. Light opens the way to our destination. It is full of hope and promises the glad attainment of goals.

WALK means LIFE. We either WALK in the DARKNESS or WALK in the LIGHT (vv.6-7): Walking in the light is walking in LOVE; while walking in the darkness means being a person of hate. More significantly: “The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining” (1Jh.2:8b). The same word for “passing away” is used in 1 John 2:17a: “And the world is passing away and the lust of it.” Walking in darkness therefore infers: being controlled by desires for this world instead of desires for GOD. To walk in the light is to live under the controlling desire for God instead of the world. The only way people can desire worldly things more than God is if they are blind to His Light. To choose gravel over diamonds one must be blind! Everyone who loves the world more than God is either blind or in a wilful darkness (Jh.3:19).

With God, there is absolutely no darkness, hidden agenda, or small print; but freedom, hope, and joy. There are no regrets or disappointments for those who come to God with all their hearts. Light is the promise of Hope and Joy. Darkness is the threat of despair and misery. To WALK in the LIGHT is to have fellowship with God, to see things as He sees them, have the same desires He has, and cultivate His lifestyle. It means seeing reality for what it is and being controlled by desires that accord with God’s light. Two things accompany walking in the light: “we have fellowship with one another” and “the blood of Jesus God’s Son cleanses us from all sin” (v.7). Walking in the Light preserves fellowship: it is the condition of fellowship with God and other believers, and the guarantee of continuing cleansing from sin.

Back in the Old Covenant, Isaiah prophesied: “O house of Jacob, come and let us WALK IN THE LIGHT of the LORD” (Isa. 2:5). The Psalmist says it well: “In Your light we see light” (Psa.36:9). To walk in the Light is to Walk in God’s Life-giving Word (Psa.119:130). To walk in the Light is to walk in Christ: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jh. 8:12). Christianity is the Call to follow Jesus, the True Light Giver.