John provides our first test immediately after he gives his message, after he gives witness of who he has fellowship with, and reminds us that God is light.
Test # 1 – Walking in Light
1 John 1:6-7
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.
Light and darkness are two environments, two states, two authorities that we may live within.
As John gives us these tests, it is good to remember that his audience was first century, and it was common to speak of daily life as “walking”.
As believers, our lives are to be lived for God, and John (along with all the NT authors) spoke of walking when they refer to our living our lives. To walk is to live.
Walking entails a number of elements that may be instructive for us to consider.
A Focus for Walking
In the first century, walking was the primary way of getting from point A to point B. No one left point A without knowing where point B was. My point, in all these points, is that walking had a destination, or a goal in mind. Our lives also are to have a goal.
I recently began a new series titled “Let Me Tell You a Story”, and published a post speaking of walking with purpose. It may be of interest to you – Let Me Tell You a Story – Plowing.
A Manner of Walking
Prior to becoming a believer at 21, my life was a filled with confusion, and fear. Out of that fear, came an existence of drunkenness and drug abuse. I will forever be thankful for the mercy of the Lord in delivering me from that hell. During those days, I staggered through my existence. Often I would find myself in shameful conditions, or dangerous environments.
A believer is to live upright and circumspectly, understanding truth (light) and conducting themselves accordingly.
Consider yourself a Christian? Where are you at with practicing truth in your life. A little darkness known is darkness still!
Growth in Walking
I’m not sure if I have mentioned before, but I have 6.8 grandchildren, as of this writing. My oldest is 12 and my seventh will be born December 12, 2020.
Each of these little miracles will walk through life, and have to learn how to balance their body as they exercise their legs and feet to propel their body forward. It is a gargantuan effort for a little eight month old to stand, and even greater for that ten month child, risking the dangers of falling in order to do what daddy does. So far each grandchild has proven to want to walk like daddy. It seems to be “second nature.”
We have a second nature too, and as we love Him and watch His actions in our lives and the lives of others, we also will want to walk like our Father. The issue we need to address is whether we are watching Him or watching something unimportant.
I trust you will seek to watch the One who is worthy of our gaze.
I hope you found a truth that was helpful in your life within this post. Drop me a line, or send this post to a friend that you thought of recently.
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