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5 This
is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that
God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we
say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in
darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 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.
One night I was
going to the kitchen from my bedroom in the dark. On my way I
bumped into many items and at one point even tripped on
something. In the dark, there was no distinction between objects
and spaces – everything looked the same. When the light came on,
I could see not only objects and spaces but also the various
colors, shades and textures along my way.
This incident led me to think about
Apostle John's proclamation, based on what Jesus told, that God
is light and there is no darkness in Him (1:5). Here John makes
sure that it is not just his own idea. In verses 1 – 4 he
establishes the authenticity of his proclamation. This is true
from the beginning of time in union with the Son, who came to
this world in flesh. John and his friends has experienced Him
personally.
As light, God reveals the truth – the
reality. With God there are clear absolutes: right and wrong, in
fellowship and out of fellowship just as light and darkness. The
world today presents everything without absolutes – that is,
there is no clear distinction between good or bad; all depends on
the person and circumstance. It is as if walking in
the darkness without clear understanding of the surrounding.
It is not so with God or with the people who wish to
have fellowship with Him.
The absence of darkness in Him reminds
us of the purity or holiness of God. This is the unique character
that only God possesses. However, it is the ultimate desire of
God that His children be holy. That is why Apostle Peter
instructs: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in
all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy”” (1
Peter 1:15,16).
Light shines wherever it is allowed to
shine and so is God. Of course, He can force light into anyone as
in the case of Apostle Paul; but that is not His normal approach.
He is a God who knocks at the door of our hearts for us to open
so that His light may shine in them (Revelation 3:20). The choice
is ours.
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