5 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. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 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. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10)
“Walking in the light” might not mean what we think.
There’s a lot wrapped up in these six verses. It’s easy for many of us to simply derive from the passage that “walking in the light” might be referring to doing good works, while “walking in darkness” might simply be referring to living in sin. Perhaps that’s part of the message. Regardless, there is something else here that I believe is important for us to take in.
What if our relationships are less about doing something to fix each other, and more about nothing being hidden?
I’m borrowing those words from something I read recently (The Cure). In relationships, there is often a strong desire to fix or be fixed. We do not like to struggle. Fixing each other’s problems seems like the answer, so we place our hope in that mission. Disillusioned with unsuccessful bouts of attempts at a fix, others of us run from that way of thinking. For instance, I recently heard someone say out of frustration, “What good does it do to talk about my problems?! All the talking in the world will not fix them!” I know this person was feeling overwhelmed and angry about his circumstances, and because of that he was missing the highlight of 1 John 5-10, just like many of us who are seeking a fix.
In 1 John 1:7, it is stated that “we have fellowship with one another” when we “walk in the light”. It goes on to say that, through true fellowship, Jesus cleanses us from all sin. How is this possible? Perhaps “walking in the light” is actually referring to the true key to healthy, healing relationships. And, perhaps, those types of relationships are actually the key to getting to the root of our problems. First, we need to “walk in the light”. Second, we need true fellowship. Lastly, somehow…Jesus handles our inner-most problems.
Authenticity, fellowship, and healing are inseparable.
So, what might “walk in the light” mean for us? When we are struggling, we feel no small amount of shame. Often, it is enough to cause us to want to hide it as best we can, leaving so much of ourselves “in the darkness”. In contrast to that approach, I think “walking in the light” has a lot to do with making sure nothing is hidden. We might call it “confession”, being authentic, or getting real. This approach to relationships is not easy and requires faith. We let the light (being known) into the darkness (where we like to stay hidden), which can be uncomfortable. Of course, part of our trusting God with this process includes the faith that He is building a community around us (His Church) for love and support. Many times that means certain people are removed from our lives, while others are being added (or so that others can be added).
Instead of remaining hidden and seeking a quick fix, perhaps what we truly need is the confidence to take off any masks we are hiding behind which invites God’s grace and healing into the midst of our deepest struggles. He can do it through a book or a sermon, but He really loves doing it through people. He enjoys creating, developing, and working in and through relationships, both with Him and others.
True fellowship is derived from “walking in the light”. When we are being authentic, with a devotion to coming out of hiding so that others can see our true selves, relationships are formed that are built on trust. We are blessed to truly get to know each other, with celebrations as well as the sharing of our heartaches and loss. Simultaneously, our relationship with God does the same. All of a sudden, we are seeing things that we had hidden not just from others, but even from ourselves! Seeing things more clearly, we are then able to fully surrender core problems over to Him, rather than settling for a temporary fix for a surface issue. Instead of finding a 10 step solution, we walk unashamedly hand in hand with God and trusted friends as we are led through the tough times and enjoy the good times. Realizing the reality of unconditional love and acceptance, along with never being alone, we are able to develop hope and confidence in the midst of the most extreme, dire circumstances.
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