Living in God’s Light

KEY VERSE: “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; 2:3-11

OUR LORD JESUS is a source of great light in a world covered by much darkness. (Luke 1:79) There is a special blessing promised to those who seek his fellowship during the present Gospel Age. The justified Christian who desires to know and to serve God, thus walks in the illumination of that great light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”—John 8:12

After his ascension to heaven, Jesus presented the merit of his sacrificial blood shed on the cross, to the Heavenly Father on behalf of his consecrated followers. In due time the value of that blood will be made available for the whole human family, who will then be given an opportunity to walk in the light of the kingdom of righteousness that will then be established on the earth.

Truth and righteousness are symbolized by light, while sin and evil are represented by darkness. The Heavenly Father is seen as the ultimate source of light, and in him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5) Any desire for fellowship with God, therefore, must be along the lines of truth and righteousness. It would be wrong for anyone to say to others, or to imagine in their own hearts, that they were walking with God and having fellowship with him while, at the same time, living a life of unrighteousness. They would not be deceiving God by their actions, nor would they receive the blessings of those who are striving to walk righteously in the light.

To the extent that consecrated Christians seek to walk in the light and to enjoy the promised fellowship with God, they will also be privileged to have Christian fellowship with others who are like-mind-ed and have similar desires. If, therefore, they do not love their brethren whom they have seen (I John 4:20), it would indicate that they were lacking in love, and were not walking in harmony with God.

Our Lord tells us: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21) It is the doing of our Heavenly Father’s will rather than the mere profession of our beliefs, that is acceptable to God. This is further emphasized by our Lord who said, “Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother.”—Matt. 12:50

This message is addressed to those believers in Christ who have made a full consecration to do the will of God, and are thereby justified. These are no longer in their sins, but have a new standing before God. The ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ has made this possible a fact which must be appreciated by all who seek to live in God’s light.

We cannot have true fellowship with all who claim to be in Christ, but we can, however, expect to enjoy true fellowship with those who earnestly seek to do the will of God, and are striving to serve him and his cause in holding forth the glad tidings, the message of light, in an otherwise very dark world. Soon Jesus will illuminate the world.—John 8:12

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