No Darkness at All

I saw a meme last week that had a backlit match stick casting a shadow on the wall. The outline of the matchstick was clearly seen, but the flame itself cast no shadow. It was an impactful demonstration, and it made a powerful point.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
– 1 John 1:5, ESV

We were “called” out of darkness by God, out of the darkness and into “his marvelous light.”¹ Indeed, we are called “children of light.”² This makes perfect sense when we consider we are children of God. God is our Father, and God is light. Therefore, we are children of that light.

Jesus said that he is the light of the world.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
– John 8:12, ESV

We are called to the light, and we are called light. We used to be in the darkness, and we were darkness.

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
– Ephesians 5:8, ESV

We are light, walking in the light, and as such we have nothing to do with darkness.

Light always overpowers darkness. It is never the other way around. That is a triumphant truth! The only contact or interaction we have with works of darkness is to expose them, and we can do this precisely because we are light.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.
– Ephesians 5:11-13, ESV

One of the more unsettling aspects of darkness is that it walks hand-in-hand with lies. Few things in humanity are more unappealing than a liar. Darkness can cause us to speak lies to others³ and, ultimately, to begin lying even to ourselves.

Rather than be upfront with our struggle and seek help, we lie to others because we don’t want them to know how hard we battle with our own sin. We want them to believe we are as victorious over sin as they are, or as they pretend to be. This is what makes transparency among brothers and sisters in Christ so appealing and so essential.

One who has lied to others long enough will eventually begin to lie to self. It is possible for a Christ-follower to live and walk in darkness and be fully convinced we are walking in the light. I have seen this far too often.

Having lied to others and lied to ourselves, the next decline is when we begin to lie to God, and we make God a liar.

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
– 1 John 1:10, ESV

I will not say “always,” because I cannot defend that, but the person described in the quote above is frequently that man or woman who is highly critical of sin in others, but who is resistant to acknowledging the sin in their own life. They feed on taking the speck out of others’ eyes, while being blind to the bridge-timber hanging from their own eye.⁴

But look what happens when we are transparent and honest.

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 cleanses us from all sin.
– 1 John 1:7, ESV

If we are walking in the light, to put it bluntly, our sin is on display. It is clearly visible to all who look.

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
– Ephesians 5:13, ESV

So, we are walking in the light, and everyone can see our sin. What happens next?

We have fellowship with other believers! Do you see that? The apostle Paul asks, rhetorically, “What fellowship does light have with darkness?⁵ None, of course! Walking in the darkness kills fellowship. Walking in the light feeds it.

The final benefit of transparency is that the blood of Jesus washes us clean. Look again at 1 John 1:7 above. We are washed clean when we walk in the light and let our sinfulness be exposed. The fellowship of other believers surrounds us and assists us, and the cleansing blood of Jesus washes over us.

Walk in the light brothers and sisters. Don’t fear the light. Welcome it. Bathe in it. God is light. In him is no darkness at all.

1. 1 Peter 2:9
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:5
3. 1 John 1:6
4. Matthew 7:3-5
5. 2 Corinthians 6:14