What does it mean to walk in the light? Actually it’s very close to what we have been discussing in our teleconference for the last two weeks about living unveiled.
The true meaning of walking in the light has been hidden for years behind teaching about perfection and the expectation that being a Christian is all about making you into a better person than you were before your conversion. (I always hated that this left me out of the equation seeing as I’ve been a Christian for as long as I can remember.) Indeed, there can be nothing further from the true meaning of walking in the light than this. It is, in fact, thinking like this that actually leads to walking in darkness and walking, as Moses did, with a veil or mask over your face.
Walking in the light means stepping into the light and what does the light do? It reveals. It burns away everything that isn’t you. It sears pretense. It leaves you naked in your soul, so that the Lord can be seen. You can’t walk in the light and have any secrets. You can’t walk in the light and think you are better than anybody. You can’t walk in the light and sin without everybody knowing it.
Walking in the light actually makes you one with the human race. *
Here is the biblical passage on walking in the light:
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 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, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)
Here is my paraphrase of the biblical passage on walking in the light:
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is the all-revealing light; around him no darkness can exist. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet hide or veil ourselves in any way, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we step into the revealing light of Christ (as He Himself is that light), we embrace whatever group of sinners we are around, because we are all being revealed together, and happily cleansed together by the blood of Jesus, his Son, who keeps on purifying us when we sin.
Gives new understanding to Marti’s idea of walking alongside, doesn’t it? Walking alongside while walking in the light will reveal the Lord and us at the same time.
[Note: we wish this revealing/cleansing process could happen in private, but it can’t because we cannot be trusted to tell the truth, so we instead have to constantly live in the revealing light of the truth. And, besides, if it could happen in private, then we wouldn’t be having the real fellowship of forgiven sinners celebrating together, we’d be having punch and cookies in the Fellowship Hall and what good is that?]
* I have a song about this (joining the human race). Here are the lyrics:
Not The Only One
Words and Music by John Fischer
I used to think that I was right
A lonely candle in the night
And while the heart of the world was breaking
I could not feel the aching
The mantle had passed down to me
This thing was my destiny
But while the world was out there dying
I was in here lying to myself
For all the knowledge I had gained
Put me on a higher plane
And I became another
No one was my brother
And the loving message He brought down
Turned into a hollow sound
And then I heard Him calling
And His words sent me falling to my knees
You’re not the only one with truth
You’re not the only one with eyes
You’re not the only one
The only one who cries
You’re not the only one
And suddenly there was with me
An ocean of humanity
A sea of many faces
In waves of warm embraces
And while I questioned how to judge them all
Who would rise and who would fall
I found myself among them
And it mattered little who was wrong or right
And then I saw Him lifted up
The wounded one who drank the cup
Of death for all the dying
The end of justifying
And I laid my mantle on the ground
And felt the rain come pouring down
The rain of my religion
Falling down like weeping from the sky
You’re not the only one with truth
You’re not the only one with eyes
You’re not the only one
The only one who cries
You’re not the only one
And then I saw as in a dream
Reflections of His glory stream
On unsuspecting faces
Enraptured in His graces
And the lost who now had all been found
Sang in pure unfettered sound
A song I knew from memory
Though I’d never heard it sung before
And then the host brought out the wine
And bid us all come and dine
At the banquet of the living
The table of forgiving
And as we raised our glasses high
And tears were forming in our eyes
I heard His words remind me
Of what I’d heard so many times before
You’re not the only one with truth
You’re not the only one with eyes
You’re not the only one
The only one who cries
You’re not the only one
John Fischer The Catch 
I apologize for seeming to be negative on this subject and I get what you are saying but if you’ve been beaten down so many times when trying to walk in the light after awhile you just don’t want to try again. I try to make comments during Bible studies that I feel are valid comments, but get laughed at or worse, silence. One doesn’t know anymore what will bring on another spiritual beating. It’s like the spirit is willing, but the flesh has had it. However, I have made a conscious effort not to allow my non-Christian neighbors to get to me, but that’s tough. They see me go off to church each Sunday and Wednesday evening and other events yet one drags me over to her house at Christmas to show me something…it’s her ‘Santa’ Jesus statue…a disgusting display. Why? I figured it was to put the knife in and twist it a little because she knew I would not like seeing that. That is just one minor incident over a lifetime of family and ‘friends’. So, I’m afraid to walk in the light with anyone…including other Christians and stay by myself more and more because I don’t know their ‘motives’ and I’m tired of being knocked down over and over. Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to be doing? Being knocked down over and over and just keep getting back up for Christ? Interesting Catch today.
Yes, that’s it. Being knocked down and getting back up.
John, Please stop making these judgements on people “in Fellowship halls” …. not everyone in those halls “eating cookies and punch” are without the ability and grace to be entering into true fellowship with one another, and to be celebrating their common salvation by faith in Christ Jesus! Your judgemental attitude toward many of Christ’s own is begining to show some leaks in your disernment. And you are, by example and your position, teaching others to think and feel the same way. It’s very devisive. Let God be the judge of such things! ……”you’re not the only one with Truth”! …..Ralph Gaily
Please keep pointing out truth. I so appreciate your writing and willingness to take a side that is not necessarily popular with today’s “church.” I’ve been reading through the gospels using the Message translation, and your thoughts seem to me to be right in line with what Jesus was trying to get across to the crowds that came to hear him. In Luke 8:16 Jesus said, “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don’t become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” Not everyone liked what he had to say–especially the church people who had a comfortable existance patting each other on the back because they “looked” good and “followed the law” better than anyone else. I grew up in a church culture filled with modern day Pharasees. I have been one. I know it feels good to be doing all the “right” things and I have thought, “I’m better than that person.” I also have felt that “hollow sound” of religion that doesn’t meet people where they are. Your post to me is refreshing and true. Thank you!
I love the lyrics, John. They say so much; they’re also beautifully written.
Is the song available to hear/download? Such powerful lyrics undoubtably have a powerful melody as well. Thank you for sharing.
Not at this time. We will get there.
For “K” – I am sorry you are having such a hard time – you sound so depressed. Just a suggestion, when your neighbor asks you over to see her Santa Jesus, why not engage her in conversation that neutral. Perhaps she’s afraid of you for some reason, afraid that you are judging her for being a non-christian. Maybe invite her over at Christmas and have a cup of tea and get to know her… just a suggestion. You see – I don’t see the world as Christian and Non-Christian. I see the world as people of all faiths doing the best they can, and I believe I have much to learn from all of them. Again, K, I’m not trying to judge you – I am just concerned at how down you feel… We all need to walk in the light along side those who believe and those you don’t!
Well done, Kathy. Good advice.
Kathy, I’m sorry I hadn’t seen your reply until now. My apologies. Fortunately, I have lived next door to this family for years and have socialized with them over the years. We talk frequently out front of our houses and this whole episode was more of an ‘in your face’ type of thing. But, that’s OK…I’ll survive this episode. As far as my labeling Christian and non-Christian, there are a very few that I label non-Christian and it’s only because of their actions and blatant displays against God. That doesn’t mean that I don’t still hope they can turn around. That’s what I’m supposed to do, I think…be there when and if they do start seeking. I think everyone else has had the Word of God written on their hearts and it’s still there…just maybe muddled by life and society.