LIVE IN THE LIGHT
1 John 1:6-7
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
When we arrived at the ranch we noticed right away that all the ranch hands and the owner were wearing snake boots or snake chaps to keep from getting snake bit by the numerous rattle snakes in the area. We asked the ranch owner about the snakes and he said to make sure we wore the protective boots or chaps. When we told him we didn't bring any his mouth twisted and all he said was, "Well, be really careful".
After 4 days of no sightings I started to feel more comfortable and my friend Paul was disappointed as he really wanted to see one. Finally, on the 4th evening we were on our way back to camp in the dark and our headlights shinned on a big old rattler. He laid in the road shaking his tail as a warning.
This experienced reminded me of how much of the bad, sinful and dangerous things hide in the darkness. Think about it, so many things in our world that are shameful are done at night and in the dark, so one else can see. Yet, as sons and daughters of God we are called to live in the light.
Sin is not the dividing factor between those who walk in the darkness and those who walk in the light. As John himself tells us, we all have sin.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)
So the darkness is not primarily one of sin but rather of ignorance sin. The person who walks in darkness is blind to his own sins. And because of this he does not repent, and he cannot avail himself of God's mercy and grace.
The light is understood to be the spiritual light that illuminates the truth that allows us to see ourselves and discern the ways in which we've failed to follow in Christ's footsteps. In knowing it brings us to repentance. In repenting so as to receive mercy.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)
Live in the light
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