Stay In The Light

Alba 5-26-2024

STAY IN THE LIGHT

I John 1:5-7

Charles Salmon, a Christian Church minister, told how his grandmother had a canary. And she loved to hear it sing. She would talk to it, and care for it very carefully, and then would sit by the window and listen to it sing.

However, the bird didn’t know when to shut up. It would stay awake and sing all night. She said it was because she kept a night light on. In order to get the canary to sleep, she would cover its cage with a heavy cloth and block out the light.

She never really knew if it was asleep, but at least it was quiet as long as it was in the dark. Of course, the light was always there, but the canary didn't know it, because it was covered.

I think it must be that way with a lot of people. The light of God’s wonder and glory is there, but they have covered themselves with darkness and never really know the glory and joy of God’s salvation. But is even worse if the person is a Christian and still lives in darkness.

That's what the apostle John says in his letter, I John 1:5-7. Here's what he says: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

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.”

This tells us that the best place to be is to stay in the light.

1. Because That's Where God Is

In fact, it is WHAT God is. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (vs. 5) Do you know what light is? One dictionary definition says that light is, “an electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range including infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and x-rays and traveling in a vacuum with a speed of about 186,281 miles per second.”

Another dictionary definition states it more simply saying it is: “something that makes vision possible.” So what is the purpose of light? The answer is not complicated. Light dispels darkness. Jesus declared Himself “the Light of the world”. He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Everywhere He went He brought light: He penetrated hearts, exposed sin, and revealed truth. He made seeing possible.

There is a contrast between light and darkness. God is the light. Not only that, but He is a light that is so bright, no darkness can be present in Him. In other words, God is all perfect, God is all good, and all of God’s decisions are just. Darkness is the opposite, it is absence of all of these things, and it represents sin. Sin is the opposite of being perfect, and good, and just. God’s plan for us is to live our lives in His light and not in the darkness of sin. And how do we find that light? Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Have you ever been in a cave when they shut the lights out? You can't see you hands in front of your face. If my hands were dirty, I would not know it except for the light that helps me to see them. God’s Word shows me the filth in my life and warns me of it’s dangers. In the darkness both evil and good look alike, but in the light they can be distinguished.

In the dark an ugly lady looks just as good as a beautiful one. And a handsome man looks no better than an ugly one. By the way, looks can be deceiving. But some light does make a difference. Light provides safety, reveals beauty, exposes flaws, impurity and uncleanness. It even produces growth in crops, and helps people feel better.

There is something called Seasonal Affective Disorder (appropriately shortened to its initials and called S.A.D.). It is caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight, which in turn alters a person’s brain chemistry and symptoms of depression may occur. The standard treatment for this disorder is “light” therapy. The principal behind light therapy is that by increasing a person’s exposure to bright light, the chemicals in a person’s brain can be brought back to normal levels and lessen or remove the symptoms of S.A.D.

In the same way we can have a Spiritual Affective Disorder. This happens when we leave God’s light—His love, and truth, and merciful presence. But there is a sure cure. When we return to God’s light, the symptoms of spiritual darkness are dispersed. We need to stay in the light of God's Word. Psalm 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” I think we all need that.