Walking in the Light

Day 334: 1 John 1:1-10

"...if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." - 1 John 1:7 ESV

The way John quoted Jesus in his first book gives us an even better understanding of our passage today. Jesus said, "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed." (John 3:20)

It has been documented that when HD TVs came into people's living rooms, those who did live news were a wreck. All the light and all the clarity were revealing what they really looked like. Their blemishes, their wrinkles. Every facet of their imperfections was put on display for all to see! Some considered (or went through with) plastic surgery.

John Stott wrote the following about this verse: "We must walk in the light of his holy self-revelation, and in his presence, without deceit or dishonesty in our mind or consciously tolerated sin in our conduct. ‘Walking in the light’ describes ‘absolute sincerity … to be, so to speak, all of a piece, to have nothing to conceal, and to make no attempt to conceal anything.’"

Bottom line: Light always exposes. When it does, we have a crucial decision to make. Will we admit our darkness, confess it to Jesus, and let Him take care of our sins? Or will we continually try to justify our sin, hoping that, eventually, everyone will move on?

God cannot move on. The pure nature of his glory is too much to exist in the presence of sin. Until we confess our sins, we cannot be purified. Admitting weakness is hard, but it is an essential practice for every Christian who seeks to operate in the light.