In the Light

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. (1 John1.7 NLT)

Every night since about this time last year, weather and job schedule permitting, I take the dog for her evening cruise around the neighborhood. Lately as we've approched the holiday (today, Christmas, if you need to ask) there have been many houses lighted with various combinations of holiday lighting. I'm not sure if this is strictly an American tradition but I do know that I like soft light and the glow it casts at night. Christmas lights are especially appealing to me because of their colors and the way their light shines into the winter evenings. The glow is very soothing and comforting. 

As I think about John's epistle and what he said, in the verse above, I have thought that I would like to live in the warmth and soothing kind of light that is displayed in holiday lighting at Christmastime. There is something comforting about this kind of light.

It's not that I don't like the light of day, nothing beats a warm sunny day in my opinion, it's just that softer light is appealing to me. I don't necessarily like the cold and I don't nesessarily like the night - although I am an avid sky-watcher (and dreamer); I think about stars and what is out there where they are. But I like the light that is cast on a winter evening by Christmas decor lighting. 

So when John says that if we are living in the light as God is 'in the light', then we have fellowship with God, because God cannot live in darkness. God is light. God dwells in unapproachable light in that His light illumines the darkest and deepest places in people's hearts. To be able to approah God in that kind of light would be to bare one's soul in such a way to cause immense and devastating grief, guilt, and discomfort, for the hearts of humans are truly evil and beyond remedy (see Jeremiah 17.9).

So I want to dwell in the soft light of God's love that is soothing, appealing and most of all comforting to one who knows his heart has seeds of disease and destruction; and pockets of blackness that are odious and evil. The Christmas lights remind me to walk in His light to see not only where I am going (in my decisionmaking and behavior) but also for the direction of my life (my purpose and meaning.)

Dwelling in the light gives me the advantage of being where God is; and where He is there is the promise of wisdom and direction that always leads to a joyful ending. So the lights this time of year remind me of His light and I find His light to be very appealing indeed!

Here's to living in the light.