Walking in the light
‘If we walk in the light,
as he (God) is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.’ (1John 1:7)
I really have to say something
about this topic today. I feel it strongly laid on my heart to make comment.
You can have friendships,
business associates, work colleague partnerships, family relationships, and
even Christian relations; but there is only one true meaning of ‘fellowship’.
There is a lot of talk among church people about 'having fellowship', but the real meaning of the word is ‘communion’. It is a relationship that goes far deeper and more intimately than any other type of personal interaction.
In the case of believers it is a deeply
spiritual matter that is evidenced in the character and the behaviour of every
part of life. It is an inward grace that shows its colours outwardly in every
action and attitude of our daily living.
John the Apostle says that we can only have true fellowship (true communion) with each other if we are walking, and walk as a habit of life, in the light. John never split hairs. We would not like him very much in our churches today. He said that if you wanted to have fellowship with him, then you need to have transparency and fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. (1John chapter 1)
What does that mean in real
terms?
‘God is light, and in him is no
darkness whatsoever. If we say that we have communion (fellowship) with him,
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.’ (1John 1:5-6)
If you want to walk with God,
then you have to be completely open and transparent, for he is light, and his
light will shine through every part of our lives. Transparency of life and
heart, of thoughts and motives, of plans and purposes, and honesty and truthfulness,
are essential to walking in the light.
This is not what some may suggest
as ‘sinless perfection’, for the verse continues, ‘and the blood of Jesus
Christ cleanses us from all sin.’ Honesty and transparency makes room for
cleansing and forgiveness.
Few ever discover the reality of
it, and even less walk in its truth and simplicity.
People talk about how they know
God and the relationship they have with him, but John the Apostle sets the bar
very high for claiming that we have real fellowship and communion with him.
If any part of us is dark, i.e.
deceitful, hidden, unclean, shady, manipulative, hateful, or unwilling to be
open and honest about everything, then we cannot claim to have fellowship with
God. Walking in the light is walking in complete openness and truth.
Transparency is the willingness
and readiness to be see-through in all that we profess to be and do.
John was telling the new converts
that if they want to have true fellowship with him, then they must have true
communion with God by walking in the light of God.
If our fellowship upward is not
true and transparent, then how can we have true fellowship with another
believer in Christ, for both the vertical relationship and the horizontal
relationships are of God and therefore must be in the same total honesty and
light.
That is why in business as well as in church life, if we claim to be followers of God, then the same openness and transparency must be the living reality of our lives, or we walk in darkness and are not in the light.
That is why Paul said, ‘Lie not one to
another’ (Colossians 3:9). In other words, ‘Do not lie or seek to deceive each
other (so the real meaning), for you have put off the old ways and practises of
the unregenerate life you once lived.’
A Christian partnership in any
field of business or interaction must be based upon these truths of Scripture,
or it is no different to the way the world behaves. Sadly today, most of the
way believers act towards each other in business and in church matters is often
both unrighteous and ungodly.
We need to love the instructions
and corrections of God, as well as the promises he gives.
Only in His light may we see
light and have light. (Psalm 36:9)
How can we have any sort of partnership or
an agreement where things are being hidden from each other and we feel we can
deceive or cheat the other party with impunity?
Can a fountain send forth both
sweet water and bitter water from the same head? No.
It really is time to sort out our act and build relationships upon the truth of God’s word. That begins with
honesty between ourselves and God. When we are right with him, we will be right
with one another.
Why am I addressing this subject?
Because I have come to realize more and more that the kingdom of God is
established upon and in truth; and our walk with God is established upon and in
truth. We are members and preachers of the kingdom, so we must abide by the kingdom terms and conditions.
To have real fellowship and know
communion with God, and with another believer, the same principle applies.
Without such there is no fellowship possible. There may be friendship, but that
is something else.
Without transparency and honesty
there can be no trust, no confidence, and no dependability. You can often find
more openness and transparency among non-Christian enterprises than among believers’
projects or business operations.
‘Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness (no changing), neither shadow of turning.’ (James 1:17)
He is the Father of all light,
pure light, light incomprehensible. He changes not, thus he never casts a
shadow; for he is truth and there is no darkness, deception, or changeability
in him whatsoever. What he promises to do, he does; what he is, he always shall
be. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
‘God is not a man, that he should
lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent (change his mind or act
differently): has he said, and shall he not do it? or has he spoken, and shall
he not make it good?’ (Numbers 23:19)
In other words, God is not like
unto men who know very well how to lie, trick, and deceive. Neither is he like
men and women who quickly change from what they said or promised, and are as
fickle as the English weather. Has he said something, and shall he not do it or
bring it to pass?
He is a faithful God (Isaiah11:5), and it is because of his faithfulness that we can have strong confidence
and trust in him.
And Jesus tells us to be perfect, just as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
Now, you may feel that these
words are a little bit sharp, but the word of God is a double-edged sword that
divides soul and spirit asunder. This is so that we might be what God has
called us to be. This is so that we
might indeed have true fellowship with our God.
It is not as though we had
attained all that we might be or should be, but like Paul, we press on forward
into the fullness of what God calls us to. (Philippians 3:12-14)
‘Brethren, I count not myself as
having apprehended (having got there as yet): but this one thing I do,
forgetting the things that are past, and reaching forth (stretching
toward)those things which are before me, I press forward to the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let me say it a little bit differently:
‘I have not made it yet, but I
shall do this one thing: forgetting, and putting away those things which are
behind me now, I shall run swiftly toward the things that God has now placed in
front of me (even this message), to hit the target, to reach the goal, to cross the finishing line
and obtain the prize of God’s high calling upon my life in Christ Jesus!’
So, let us, who are like-minded
and have come to agreement on this issue, do what God says and reach for
greater heights and a more noble and holy way of living.
We have to walk in the light, not just pop into a prayer session or a church meeting. It is a daily walk that keeps on walking every moment in the light.
Everything we do, all that we say, every meeting with another person, be that on a social level, or business meeting, or just out on the street, we walk in the light. Then we shall have true fellowship with God.
Let us be better than we have been. Let us be like Christ, and let us abide in the love of God.
