Walking in the Light

MEMORY SELECTION: “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” —I John 1:7

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I John 1:5-10; 4:1-6

WHEN our Lord Jesus bought us and the whole human family (including those yet unborn and all who are in their graves) with his own precious blood, he became the great light-giver to the world. He is the true Light of the world and he will bring to completion the plan of God, of which he is the central figure. In due time he will enlighten every person who has ever been born on the earth. That will require the entire thousand years of his kingdom. Only a small number of mankind have ever come to appreciate that light which was shed upon the world two thousand years ago. “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isa. 60:2) We must continue to wait for the glorious millennial day of Christ when that great Light will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom. “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”—Mal. 4:2

At that time the faithful ones, the jewels fair, those who have been polished and fitted during this time of darkness, will be glorified with their Lord and will be associated with him in the momentous work of blessing all the families of the earth. The kingdom of Christ—our Lord Jesus, together with the 144,000 members of his body—will dispense life-giving blessings to all who will receive them during that future age.

During the present time we may enjoy fellowship with others who are also walking in the light of truth. This affords the opportunity to assist one another in the ways of truth and righteousness. We have the privilege of helping to build one another up in the most holy faith. We do this as long as we “walk in the light, as He is the light.” True fellowship implies love, sympathy, and a mutual respect for the interests of others. Fellowship of this magnitude is enjoyed and participated in by those whose common aims have brought them to the narrow way in Christ Jesus. We may have fellowship with the Heavenly Father, with our Lord Jesus, and with those who are walking in the light.

Those who are called during this time of darkness are called to a high, or heavenly, calling. If faithful, they will be partakers of His light and share with Him in the blessing of enlightening the world.

This special privilege is extended to those who are justified by faith. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that has cleansed us from all sin and made it possible for us to present our lives in total service and dedication to the Heavenly Father. “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”—Rom. 5:8,9

We have received the value of our Lord’s sacrificial blood in advance of the world. “Of his own will [God] begat us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18) These new creatures in Christ Jesus are prospective joint-heirs and, if faithful, will reign with our Lord in his kingdom. And so thoroughly have they received of his Spirit that they are willing to suffer reproach for his cause and the truth, even as he did. They are ready, like him, to lay down their lives in sacrifice. They thus become living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. It is only upon condition that they suffer with Jesus that they may hope to share with him in his kingdom as joint-heirs.

The Master gave all that he had. He gave his life, the perfect life of the man Christ Jesus, as a substitute for the forfeited life of father Adam. He poured out his soul (being) unto death: he made his soul (being) an offering for sin.

We behold his glory, his grandeur, his perfection, his nobility. It shines out clearly to those whose eyes have been opened. Its light operating in our hearts purifies and sanctifies. It helps us to transform our lives into his likeness. We are changed from glory to glory, and we are brought more and more into his likeness—the likeness of God’s own dear Son.

“This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”—I John 1:5

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