Black Out

 

 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim what we have seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his son, Jesus Christ.  We write this to make our joy complete.  This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light and in him is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  I John 1:1-5

 

Ouch.  Today’s verse is a very sobering verse.  If we name the name of Christ- say we are a Christian, we have got to be a Christian.  100%.  If we play with sin, compromise with the world, we are then liars.  This is the Bible-not my words.

Now understand that elsewhere in Scripture it is obvious that we all fail in many ways and when we do, Jesus advocates to the Father on our behalf. We will never know this side of heaven how much mercy God extended to us in our day in/day out shortcomings and failures.  I believe what this verse is talking about is what we call a hypocrite- the person who says one thing but does another.  This is the person sitting on a church pew three times per week but is having an affair with the secretary.  This is the person who claims to be a Christian, but lies on their taxes.  This is a person who smiles to your face, yet stabs you in the back.

The easiest way to describe this is to picture a split TV screen.  On the left it is pitch black with no picture.  On the right is pure blinding light.  If we are walking with Jesus, our character is only ever on the right screen, never on the left one.  All of our dealings, habits, thoughts, and words (to the best we are able) are done in the light of the truth and in accord with the way Jesus lives.  If our character is making frequent guest appearances on the screen on the left, we have a problem.  You have to pick a team.  You cannot play for two different teams.  You are either a Seminole or a Gator.  An Alabama fan or an Auburn fan.  You are for Jesus, or you are against Jesus.

Every decision we make, in essence, is voting for a team.  It is aligning ourselves with one side or the other.  That is why we cannot afford to live sloppily, readily making alliances with the enemy of our soul.

Is there any darkness in your life?  In what you watch, where you go, what you read, what you listen to, who you spend time with?  If so, step into the light in these areas today!

Dear Lord, show me where there is darkness in my life.  Help me to walk in your light and live a consistent Christian witness.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri