1 John 1_6 Fellowship of Light or Darkness
"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in
the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth" (1 John 1:6)
You or I can say many things but voicing something does not make it true. The singular voice of pure truth in our world today is the Word of God. All other voices pale in comparison, as they are a mixture of truth and lie - light and darkness.
We were born into this mixed up world and we lived according to the dictates of our natural desires. We did what was right and in our own eyes. We trusted in ourselves and we relied on our own abilities.
Then, our Heavenly Father drew our hearts to His Son, Jesus Christ (John 6:33). We fell in love with Jesus because we learned that "He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). We willingly turned over our hearts and lives to follow him. Jesus gave us a new nature, a new heart, and His Spirit-lived inside of us. Our hearts and lives changed. We desired pureness instead of our sinful ways. We began reading the Bible and truths began exploding off the pages. Joy sprang up in our hearts and minds and quiet peace filled our being. We were called to follow the "Light of the world" and to have the "Light of life" glowing in our lives (John 8:12). We were called to love all others like Jesus loved them.
In time, we learned that our old human nature did not want to follow Jesus. At the same time, Christ's Spirit whispers in our hearts the Christian way of trust and obedience. His loving call for change from our darkness to his "marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). We live now with this constant struggle between the darkness of our human sinfulness and the light of Christ's purity and love. We choose to obey one of two masters in our lives, the flesh or the spirit.
When we willingly follow the sinfulness of our carnal nature then we have walked away from the light of Jesus. When we follow this darkened way and continue to refuse to turn around, to repent, and go back to the ways of Jesus then we walk in darkness.
A walk in darkness is lonely, sad, bitter, and hard. The heart is heavy. The heart hurts. Our joy in Christ is unsettled and is replaced with burning irritableness. Our minds are filled with flowing lies, bitter deceits, and an expectant-unreasonable calamity. We've walked away from the truth found in Jesus Christ.
Yet, for the Christian there is the brightest of hopes. For the follower of Christ can repent, can turn, and can return to the light of righteousness. We can enter into the sweetest fellowship with our Savior and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our wounds can be healed. Our walk can be restored and peace, His sweet peace and joy flow abundantly in our hearts and minds. The choice of darkness or light lays before us... so be watchful and diligent!
You or I can say many things but voicing something does not make it true. The singular voice of pure truth in our world today is the Word of God. All other voices pale in comparison, as they are a mixture of truth and lie - light and darkness.
We were born into this mixed up world and we lived according to the dictates of our natural desires. We did what was right and in our own eyes. We trusted in ourselves and we relied on our own abilities.
Then, our Heavenly Father drew our hearts to His Son, Jesus Christ (John 6:33). We fell in love with Jesus because we learned that "He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). We willingly turned over our hearts and lives to follow him. Jesus gave us a new nature, a new heart, and His Spirit-lived inside of us. Our hearts and lives changed. We desired pureness instead of our sinful ways. We began reading the Bible and truths began exploding off the pages. Joy sprang up in our hearts and minds and quiet peace filled our being. We were called to follow the "Light of the world" and to have the "Light of life" glowing in our lives (John 8:12). We were called to love all others like Jesus loved them.
In time, we learned that our old human nature did not want to follow Jesus. At the same time, Christ's Spirit whispers in our hearts the Christian way of trust and obedience. His loving call for change from our darkness to his "marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). We live now with this constant struggle between the darkness of our human sinfulness and the light of Christ's purity and love. We choose to obey one of two masters in our lives, the flesh or the spirit.
When we willingly follow the sinfulness of our carnal nature then we have walked away from the light of Jesus. When we follow this darkened way and continue to refuse to turn around, to repent, and go back to the ways of Jesus then we walk in darkness.
A walk in darkness is lonely, sad, bitter, and hard. The heart is heavy. The heart hurts. Our joy in Christ is unsettled and is replaced with burning irritableness. Our minds are filled with flowing lies, bitter deceits, and an expectant-unreasonable calamity. We've walked away from the truth found in Jesus Christ.
Yet, for the Christian there is the brightest of hopes. For the follower of Christ can repent, can turn, and can return to the light of righteousness. We can enter into the sweetest fellowship with our Savior and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our wounds can be healed. Our walk can be restored and peace, His sweet peace and joy flow abundantly in our hearts and minds. The choice of darkness or light lays before us... so be watchful and diligent!
posted by Michael Byrd at 5:27 AM
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