Imagine a story like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. What do the characteristics of dark and light represent in these two epic tales? Immediately the battle for good (light) versus evil (dark) comes to mind. It is a natural tendency to think of this contrast. The Apostle John, when describing God and those who follow after him, uses this same contrast of light and darkness. Here is what he says, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1.5-7). Our God is one of light, meaning purity, and by nature there can be no darkness in him. Those who wish to follow after him must also retreat from the darkness. To a dark and dying world, our God is a bright and shining light that beckons us to come to him through Christ by the Holy Spirit.
Thoughts on the Light
What does it mean to live in the light? Simply put, it means living in God's presence and living in response to what God has revealed. To live before the face of God should be the desire of every Christian. The Latin term for this is Coram Deo, or 'before the face of God.' This is to give one's complete life over to living before God, recognizing our faults and constantly turning to him in our failures, not holding anything back. This is what it means to live in the light as he is in the light. Whether you are a student, parent, male or female, pastor or professional our calling is to live in light of God's presence, openly and honestly admitting to God our constant need for his grace through Christ. And with living in the light comes a promise, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin (v. 7). Living in the light means we can come around a common shared belief and recognize that Christ cleanses us from all sin. This is a one time act as well as a continual act. We have been forgiven and we are being forgiven. As we stumble, we know that we have the blood of Christ cleansing us from all sin, so we repent and we continue living in the light. To live in God's presence is the most freeing thing anyone can do, to run from God's presence brings slavery to our own devices.
Thoughts on Darkness
If Coram Deo is living before the presence of God, then the opposite of that is running from the presence of God. If we live in the darkness, then we are denying that which God has revealed and we refuse to acknowledge that his goodness and mercy is what is best for us. For us who choose to deny the goodness of God revealed to us, we are like the chaff that the wind drives away according the psalmist (Psalm 1.4). We cannot last! Living in the dark means denying who we are and who God is. We are sinful people in need of redemption, and God is the only one who can redeem. Without this realization, we will continue to live in the darkness. In fact, John says we make God a liar if we do so (1 John 1.10)! We can be in church, doing church activities, saying we are alright with God and still be living in the darkness. If we seek to make things right on our own or try to do things within our own power, we are living in darkness. Until we are open and honest about our condition, and recognize that God alone is the physician of our maladies, then we continue to abide in darkness. But, as John tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). What wonderful freedom we have in Christ and living in the light! The darkness hides and festers, the light reveals and heals.
So What?
The light is infinitely more refreshing that the dark. Like the epic movies of good versus evil, we all long for the light to win over the darkness. Though the path of those good warriors is often difficult, we all know that it is the one true way. So too is it with our faith. We have been given a choice, to live in light of God's presence or to turn our backs and run. One way (the light) acknowledges that we are nothing without the grace of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. The other way (the darkness) denies the goodness and grace of God and chooses rather to go an opposite path. A Christian living in light of God's presence choose to deal with sin rather than deny it. They also continue to run back to the arms of a loving Father when they have temporarily gone astray. A Christian walking in the light recognizes that sin hinders a right relationship with God, therefore there is need for continual cleansing through prayer and a repentant life. One who desires to walk in the light will be open and transparent about sin, and continue to have a right relationship with God so that they might be a faithful witness to the world. May the same be said of us. Take care and have a great week in the Lord!
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