The Beloved: Walking in the Light
I strongly dislike visiting the dentist. Sitting in a chair while someone scrapes my teeth makes me feel trapped. I also feel exposed by the bright light shining into my face while the dentist works. However, I recognize the privilege of good dental healthcare. I dislike the process, but I like the outcome of clean and healthy teeth. Even that uncomfortable blinding light above the dentist’s chair has a purpose. With it the dentist sees my teeth clearly and provides me with the proper care.
In our current input series Community Church is exploring what being people beloved by God means according to John—Jesus’ beloved friend and follower. So, let’s start with the first letter John wrote to a group of early Christians. He said:
“God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness” (1 John 1:5-6).
Today, let’s explore the idea that God is light.
When we encounter God, specifically through a relationship with Jesus, the purity of God's love shines into our lives illuminating, cleansing, and comforting us.
Similar to a dentist looking for plaque or decay, God’s light examines our hearts. God reveals the parts of our character, attitudes, and actions that do not align with his own. In other words, God illuminates the sin in our lives.
Many people, both Christians and those without any faith background, react very strongly against the word “sin.” No one enjoys having their flaws pointed out or feeling judged, so we quickly become defensive (I do too!). It’s true, the illuminating light of God makes us feel exposed, uncomfortable, and convicted. But that is not the end goal!
Becoming aware of unkindness, injustice, dishonesty, disobedience, etc… in our lives should not leave us in a state of shame, guilt, and hopelessness. Instead, it leads us to turn away from those things and turn to God for healing (see 2 Corinthians 7 for a more in depth explanation of this process).
God’s light not only illuminates, it also cleanses. Similar to the sun’s ability to bleach cloth and other materials left in its light, even more powerfully God forgives and purifies us from the things that contaminate our lives and relationship with him. Walking with Jesus means stepping away from a life of spiritual darkness and into his loving light, being cleansed from all sin (1 John 1:6-7).
Lastly, after God’s light illuminates and cleanses us, he comforts us.
After my son comes home from preschool, I give him a bath, removing the playground sand and leftover tomato sauce from lunch. It takes some scrubbing and soap but his skin eventually gets clean. After bath time, do I leave him clean but shivering on the bathmat? Of course not! I immediately wrap him in a towel and hold him close, warming up his little body.
John reminds us of the comforting warmth God’s light also brings by assuring us that God really does forgive and cleanse.
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
So friends, let’s not stay in spiritual darkness, but step into the light of God’s love which illuminates, cleanses, and comforts us. If you want to know more about experiencing the love and light of God in your own life, please contact us.