The Bible says we are to walk in the light as He is in the light. If you have been in church for any amount of time, you have heard the comparison of the things of God and light. God is the Father of Lights (James 1:17). He covers Himself in light (Psalm 104:2). Jesus was the Light of the World (John 8:12). His life is the light of men (John 1:4). This analogy saturates Scripture, and this brings us to our Verse of the Day:
But 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, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7 (NIV)
What does it mean to walk in the light? The imagery is weighty throughout the Word of God and it embodies our calling as Christians. Walk in the light as He is in the light commands our Father in Heaven. The entire lifestyle and behavior reflecting faith in Christ is embodied in this one word: light.
Let’s go through the different aspects of life that should steer our thoughts and behavior. First, light is holiness. Holiness is not something that we can do. We tend to think of holiness as behavior, but behavior is something we have control over. But it is the Lord who makes man holy (Hebrews 2:11) so it is out of our control. When we choose to obey the commands of God, this is consecration. We consecrate ourselves the best we can. This is our attempt to honor the Lord with our life. God’s response is heart transformation or holiness. He purifies our heart (Psalm 51:10) and makes us holy when we have displayed our desire to honor Him with the consecration of our life. Light then encapsulates both of these. Light is our consecration and His transforming touch upon our hearts that removes our desires and passions for the things of the flesh and fills us with a greater desire to honor Him.
The process of holiness is more however than simple obedience. How do we know how to act, how to think in consecration? The Apostle Paul remarked that he only understood that he was not to covet because the law said, “Do not covet” (Romans 7:7). The Word of God then teaches how to consecrate ourselves that we might be made holy. This is why we also see the Word of God depicted as light in the psalms.
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Psalms 119:105 (NIV)
The Word of God however is spiritual. It is unlike any other book. It is the breath of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus often said that those who have ears, let them hear. What He meant was that not everyone had in their spirit an ability to grasp the monumental truths of Scripture and accept them. The Bible is only understood by the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth (John 16:13), which is the Word of God (John 17:17) who is Jesus (John 1:1-14), who is the Truth (John 14:6). When we only read the Bible, study it without the Holy Spirit, we are merely reading the stories of God. We are learning about God, but the Holy Spirit brings revelation to our heart about the heart of God. It is the difference between reading a biography of someone and actually being close friends with that same person. The first is good but so insufficient. The latter is a deep connection. We can’t live in the Light without the Holy Spirit. We can’t live in the Light without the Truth. We can’t live in the Light without the Word of God. But there is one more.
The Scripture, the truth, the Light is taught by the Holy Spirit through people, the Body of Christ. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing as someone else preaches (Romans 10:17). And it is the Holy Spirit that gives some the gift of preaching also gives others the gift of teaching (1 Corinthians 12:28) that we might learn. We cannot walk in the Light, Jesus, Truth without also being part of the Body of Christ which is the church. Going to church doesn’t make us part of the Body of Christ. Being involved in Christian work, learning, and serving is the key.
These are all components of walking in the light. None are disposable. Now, let us walk in the light as He is in the light.
Live Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Read more about living a holy life
10 Steps to Live in the Abundant Life God Has For You
