Walk In The Light Series

Series: Are You Real? [#2]

WALK IN THE LIGHT

1 John 1:5-7

Introduction:

Every time I talk about light and darkness I have an automatic go to example in Tharon. With his being blind, I can tell you numerous stories; but over the last months God has given me even a more personal illustration of walking in light and darkness. I remember through the last several years of Tharon’s being blind that one of the only times that he was really down was the day that he became totally blind. He had not been able to see at all for months; but the day he lost all light perception was really hard for him. Recently, I was walking from my living room to my bedroom and all of a sudden everything went completely black. I couldn’t see a thing and what was usually a very quick couple of steps from the living room to the bedroom became a dangerous trip. I ran into walls, stubbed my toes, etc…

I have been asked many times through the years, “Why does it matter how I live as a Christian, if once saved always saved”? It matters more for others than it does for you. We have talked about the fact that people are looking to Christians to just be real and your decision to walk in darkness or in the Light will determine what they find. How do you walk in the Light of Jesus?

1 John 1:5 (NIV)

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

In order to walk in the Light, you must…

1. Allow the Light to shine.

It is made clear that God is light. Sometimes on Wednesdays, I will ask the kids questions that although the answers seem obvious, they can’t get it right; but I bet when I ask the adults the same question, they can’t give an answer either. What is light? To be honest with you, I didn’t have an answer either, so I looked it up. One of the definitions made a lot of sense to me- “Light is something that makes vision possible." In other words, light makes it possible for us to see. Light reveals. To "bring something to light" is to make it known and this is what John is getting at here in this passage of Scripture. God reveals. God exposes. God makes it possible for us to see clearly- Things as they really are. Now, how do you compare light with darkness? Again, if you look at the dictionary, you will find this definition: "Devoid or partially devoid of light- Not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light." Simply put, darkness is the absence of light. Light and darkness are opposites. In the Scriptures, light refers to truth, purity and holiness. Darkness refers to error, ignorance, sin and evil.

I have said that in order to walk in the Light of Jesus you have to allow the Light to shine; but you need to realize that you can’t do that apart from Jesus. Meaning, that you must be a Christian to be able to walk in the Light of God- In fact, as a child of God, you are light. Whether you allow your light to shine is up to you. When you are living and doing things like the world, you are walking in darkness; and when you are allowing God to direct your life, you are walking in Light.

Allowing the Light of Jesus to shine is a choice that you make. You have to be intentional about your decisions and when the Light exposes your sins, you have to deal with it.

1 John 1:6 (NIV)

“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”

In order to walk in the Light, you must…

2. Avoid the darkness.

As I said earlier, walking in the Light is a choice and you make that choice by avoiding the darkness. We as Christians who believe in the “Security of the Believer”, (you can’t be saved, lose it, and get it back); tend to struggle with this. It is easy to get the attitude that I’m saved and going to Heaven so it doesn’t matter how I live; but that is untrue. It is untrue because your life affects other’s lives and because there is consequences to walking in darkness. In those times that I can’t see, I am at a high risk of being injured and the same thing applies to us spiritually.

You can tell the whole world that you’re a Christian; but the things you do, the places you go, etc… speak much louder than what you say. Be careful with the situations you put yourself in. Pay attention to what you watch and what you listen to.