Lies And Darkness

Beloved:  This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.  If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.  But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. 

If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

This passage from the first letter of John is enlightening.  “God is light,” so says Jesus according to John, meaning there is “no darkness at all.”  He says when “we lie and do not act in the truth,” we walk in darkness.  Therefore, we refuse our fellowship with God.

If we say, “We are without sin,” we lie; we do not act in the truth.  What is God to do?  According to this John, our sins are not forgiven because we walk in darkness.

The New Year arrives shortly.   The skies will light with fireworks.   Darkness will be dispelled at least temporarily.   Let’s ponder this reading and use it as a reminder that lies alienate us from God.  Pretending we don’t sin – not making mistakes, serious or otherwise – keeps us in the dark.  Firework explosions should wake us up for a fresh start in 2019 and to hear the messages Jesus continues to proclaim to us as the Word of God.

Deacon David Pierce