Jesus said: “I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life”, John 8:12. He also declared: “I am the way, the truth and the life…….”, John 14:6.
Jesus described the devil as the father of all lies in John 8:44: “……He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it” The devil abides in the dark, but flees from the light as He cannot operate in it. He hates truth.
How do I define truth, personally, for me? How do I define a lie in my life, as seen through God’s eyes?
1 John 1:7-9 declares: “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, cleanses us from all sin”
Jesus warns: “If the light within you turns to darkness, then how great is that darkness”, Matthew 6:22-23.
A truth, or a lie, is not just a spoken word on my lips. The Holy Spirit may reveal a truth to me and give me that light bulb moment of spiritual understanding, but until I take that truth and allow Him to work it into my life, it does not belong to me. Only as I walk in it in the school of life does it become mine, and Jesus, the true Light, shines through me. When God gives revelation light, beware of being so “enchanted but unchanged”, (Oswald Chambers).
My life should be an expression and demonstration of the truth I declare and believe. On the other hand, my life will also be a demonstration of the lies I am believing. Truth and lies have an out-working in my life. Just as truth causes me to walk in the light, a lie I am believing and demonstrating results in my walking in darkness. Selfishness and thoughtlessness are the devil’s ground and result in his darkness in my life, manifesting in an assortment of negatives from his box of tricks! This is not the birthright in Christ of His resurrection ground. Strongholds of wrong believing can be exchanged for right believing as the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. When the Holy Spirit reveals in His light the need for change, as we repent and surrender in humility, the Lord Jesus releases His tap of grace and truth to light His way forward for me.
Emancipation was the word used to set people free from the despicable tyranny of slavery. Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary emancipated me from the bondage of living to self. We have established that it is not necessarily what I say, but how I conduct my life that matters to the Lord. He gave everything for me at Calvary, at no cost to me. One of the songs defining God’s amazing grace declares: “He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay…..” A heart of gratitude for Jesus’ selfless act seeks to serve the Master. This comes from the deposit of the new life given to us in Jesus when we entered into salvation. Jesus promised us His abundant life flowing from within us. He has done everything from His side. The darkness present in us restricts His flow.
How do I conduct myself in relationships? Is darkness present there in my bias towards certain folk? Have I been critical and judged them? When I do this I am like a man sitting on the branch of a tree, sawing it off but unaware I am sitting on the branch I am cutting off! Disaster will surely follow if unrepented of, as scripture declares: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judges, for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judges does the same things”, Romans 2:1. You are permittted to observe what others do, but do not fall into the trap of despising them, or being self righteous. Pray for them, only God knows their true motive.
When I am living my life in the Light, walking and demonstrating truth, then I will be devoid of the darkness of selfishness. There is a greater dimension of light to be applied to my walk. What are my motives for doing what I do? If it is to please God and live to Him, I will be walking in the light. If I live to please men, gain their approval and seek position, darkness will be present in some form in my life, leaving me vulnerable to the devil and his ploys. The devil delights in any opportunity to gain a foothold. Lies, unbelief, anxiety, stress, selfishness are the ground he thrives and increases in. These imposters are not the legacy for a child of God! When you recognise them creeping in to your life, repent of the lie you have given bed room to, refuse the lie of the devil, kick it out, close the door on it immediately, standing on and declaring the word of God.
“The little foxes spoil the vine”, Song of Solomon 2:15. These little foxes are the lies that make me introspective, keep me from fellowship with the Body of Christ and cause selfishness. Darkness.
Also to be considered is that old enemy, pride. Pride is blind causing darkness. It makes me independent of God and elevates self. In the middle of the word pride is a hidden ‘I’ -p r I d e. It is all about me, what I want, desire and keeps me comfortable. It is a lie and causes God to resist me. 1 Peter 5:5 “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble”
Humility enables me to walk in the light, for it is the character of God’s Son. The Holy Spirit has a divine affinity to it and draws close to the humble. As I walk in the truths I have received and believe, there will be a constancy of preferring others before myself, considering how my decisions may affect others, thoughtfulness in a positive way towards them – walking in the Light of Christ.
The more we know Jesus, the more truth becomes a reality in our lives, and not just a spoken word. Psalm 36:9 declares: “For with You is the fountain of life. In Your light, we shall see light”
Here is a quote by someone who had received revelation: “We are not islands to ourselves, joined together by God, held together by one another. Refuse to fall prey to division and isolation”
1 John 1: 5-7 “….God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But 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 cleanses us from all sin”
Walk in the Light!
Photo by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash
