While autumn delights me in many ways, one particular change ushered in by the autumnal equinox troubles me. Along with the shift toward chillier temperatures, the incremental shortening of daylight hours robs me of the positivity of sunlight. Instead of evenings walking in the light of a slightly fading sun, my walks encompass the dimness of autumn dusk.
Joining my good friend Lisa Burgess for her Touch the Light challenge, pondering and memorizing 1 John 1 as well as reading companion passages in the Gospel of John, has me walking in the Light seeking a greater understanding of God’s Light in my life.
walking in the light
Delving into the Light verses Darkness comparision a few weeks ago, John 1:1-5 reminded me, Jesus, the Light stepped into a world darkened by sin, brokenness and evil; in Him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind. Jesus brought Hope as a Light that defeats darkness.
Sitting with John 8:12 recently comforted me with Christ’s promised Light as I followed Him, walking in His Light; no darkness able to obscure my way.
As a result of walking in the Light, seeing the truth of an exposed reality inclines my heart toward godly desires, following the true Light of Life. In 1 John 1:5, John bears witness that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.
When God the Father commands the Light of Christ to shine in your heart illuminating every corner with the glory of Christ, (2 Corinthians 4:6) He delivers you from the darkness of sin and all obtsacles to the fullness of joy. Instead capturing your desires with His surpassing worth over all the world offers, to walk in the Light as He is in the Light.
walking in the darkness
Conversely, walking in the darkness signifies little to no desire for the things of God due to the blindness so intrinsic to darkness.
Blind to God’s Light, those who walk in darkness cling to a deception.
At times we all fall prey to the deception of the darkness; like the man lost in pride who feels a warm furry object with one hand and a cold sharp edge with the other in the dark. He chooses clinging to the warm furry object, believing the security it portends.
But when the Light shines forth he looks on in horror at the devouring beast he chose at his side, while Christ looks on, sword at the ready for deliverance. Darkness blinds you to the truth and the true way, leading you into danger, trusting in your own wisdom and the world’s deceptions.
walking in the light reveals joy and hope
As with the example above, shining Light into a dark room reveals all the hidden dangers or deceptions. The quality of light is positive, revealing, truthful. Jesus as God’s Light illumines sin in our lives, the temptations and snares of the evil one, and pitfalls of pride otherwise hidden.
In the dark nothing appears in its true form; the Light exposes the threats of darkness, offering freedom from fear, resulting in joy and hope for the future.
God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all; no hidden agenda, no disappointments, only purity of forgiveness, acceptance, eternal joy and fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
following the light we have life
In John 8:12, Jesus makes a remarkable statement; “I am the Light of the World, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.“
Following Jesus as the Light, you have Him: as your Shepherd, Savior, Light in darkness, Living water and Bread of Life. This following implies a oneness with Christ and the Father, not a tagging along. In oneness with Christ, you will not walk in darkness, if you merely tagged along, you risk straying into the dark places.
In 1 John 1:1-6, the Apostle John reminds us of Jesus’ oneness with the Father from the beginning and the purpose of His Light and [eternal] life manifested toward man remains in offering the same oneness of fellowship with the Father for all who believe.
are you walking in the light?
Drawn to the early morning sunlight streaming in my windows, my soul breathes in the light which so fills my heart with hope and joy for the day. The words of 1 John 1:5 bring a reassuring smile to my lips as I feel God’s embrace in the sunlight.
But as the autumn dusk claims the day’s last glimpse of sunlight, 1 John 1:6 prompts a slow fade of the lingering smile. In the same way the dwindling of the hours of sunlight troubles me in autumn, the claim of walking in the Light while lingering in a shadowed dusk hangs heavy upon my heart.
Boasting fellowship in the Light while walking in darkness, I compromise the truth.
Walking in the Light, I must guard my heart and mind from the deception of sin, allowing the Light of Christ access to every corner of my heart, that its cleasning power may have its perfect work casting out the darkness and maintaining Oneness in fellowship with God and my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Donna, this encouraged me today. When we walk with Him, we need never fear the darkness. You also have moved me to pray for those who walk in darkness, not recognizing how easily we can lose a sense of perception and reality when in darkness. Grateful to have read this post today!
Joanne, I praise God you found encouragement here today. Such a promise He gives us that we need not fear darkness for ourselves or those we love. Oh how I pray the Light of His wonderful love shines into the hearts of those lost in the dark today!
Thank you for this encouragement, Donna! I love that the Light of the world is able to expose and cleanse us from all darkness, to bring us into the Light with Him. The promise is mind-blowing and sweet to the soul.
Carlie! So pleased you stopped by today! I love these verses in 1 John, so encouraging, as we know we struggle with the darkness of sin, but God defeated the darkness, making us clean and allowing us to walk in the Light with Him, Praise God for His goodness!
I love this Donna, this is such a blessed post. I needed to hear this today. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
~Selah ~
Thank you, Paula, you brighten my day with your sweet comments! Rejoicing this post blessed you today!
Yes, we so need the Sonlight to survive! Thank you for this encouraging post, Donna. This reminds me of a verse in Psalm 36 – “For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.” Love and blessings to you!
Trudy, I love to think of God’s light as Sonlight! Rejoicing you found the post encouraging. Thank you for the reminder from Psalm 36, I enjoyed visiting those verses!
God made us to need and crave His light and sunlight. Both are necessary for our growth. “Darkness blinds you to the truth and the true way, leading you into danger, trusting in your own wisdom and the world’s deceptions.” But God’s light convicts us and shines truth into our lives. May we run towards the light.
Our evening walks have been getting ending just before darkness, but soon they won’t. Streetlamps will be our guide. Makes me sad too.
Theresa, what a beautiful way to phrase our longing for the sunlight-that God created us to crave that light. Such good thoughts about how nourishing God’s Light is to us! Indeed I want to run towards the Light!
I have missed several evening walks because of the quickening of dusk. Sometimes, I will walk in the neighboring church’s well-lit parking lot. Sometimes, I will walk during the lunch hour. Winter finds me adding music to my evenings to bring inward ‘lightness’ while being shut indoors.
You shared, “God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all; no hidden agenda, no disappointments, only purity of forgiveness, acceptance, eternal joy and fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.” Amen. He brings light, joy, and fellowship. I am so thankful for His goodness and faithfulness towards us.
Lisa, I love the thought of adding music to your evenings to bring some light while unable to walk in the outdoor light. I try to walk earlier in the day too, something about the bright sunlight feeds my soul. But ultimately I have to remember where God is, there is always Light.
This is as encouraging as I expected it to be, Donna! 🙂 I love this: “Following Jesus as the Light, you have Him.” Amen! Such a blessing to have him as our light.
Thank you, Lisa, it is always my prayer the posts will come across as encouraging! I have been savoring the thought that as I follow Christ as the Light I not only follow, but become one in fellowship with Him. Blessings to you my Friend!
“This following implies a oneness with Christ and the Father, not a tagging along. In oneness with Christ, you will not walk in darkness, if you merely tagged along, you risk straying into the dark places.” This is a wonderful word picture of what it is like to not walk in Jesus’ light. Tagging along can also be tiring–trying to keep up–but when in Jesus’ light, we are at rest.
Lynn, thank you for your faithfulness in stopping by to read my post! I think that is my favorite word picture from the Lord, I’ve often viewed following God as tiring, because I never feel like I can keep up!
I’m with you… shorter days mean less light and that makes me sad. I love to be in the light – both in the natural and spiritually.
It’s amazing how alive I feel in the light, both in natural sunlight, but even more so in the real Son-light!