Walking in the light

July 22, 2020 (Wednesday)

 

The governor has rolled back some openings. This will cause stress on the already fragile economy and fragile emotional state of many people. It would seem in our Covid19 infested world, we are creating chaos out of order.

 

The standard formula for most of the creation account is 1.) “God said let there be…” 2.) “and there was…” 3.) “there was evening and there was morning” 4. “the _____ day.” The comment “God saw it was good” is not used on the second day. After creating Adam (man), God noted it was “very good.” Later we find, despite God’s perfect creation, God declares it is not good for Adam to be alone.

 

The second part of the formula is interesting to me because, as a statement of fact, it emphasizes what happens when God speaks. God said it, it happened. As if, nothing else could happen or the speaking could be resisted in any way. But that’s just my feeling.

 

There is a word play in God speaking things into existence. God’s personal/sacred name, the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), means “I am who I am.” Or possibly "I am, I am." Ether way it is a statement of being. The statement “let there be” is the first part of the personal/sacred name of God. It is followed by “and there was” is the last part of the name.

 

This happens on day one of creation, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” [Genesis 1:3 – 5 ESV]

 

Please notice that God creates light. Also notice, this is not sourced by the sun (created later). In an earlier study (please read back), we understand Jesus created. Jesus is the “word” (see John 1:1). It is important to reject the idea that Jesus is a created being. Yet, this verse has been used to suggest that heresy (lie).

 

Light is used as a metaphor (word picture) to describe God. For instance, 1 John 1:5 states, “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.” [ESV] Notice this is about the absoluteness of God. As a metaphor light dispels darkness. (Darkness is a metaphor for “evil.”) This image shows God has no hint of evil, not even a shadow. If you work on this, you will find more ways to understand the metaphor of light (and darkness).

 

If we follow John’s thoughts a few more verses we read, “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] Two things follow the idea of walking in the light of God. We have fellowship with each other. Meaning, live in community and partnership with each other. The second thing is the blood of Jesus, cleanses us from ALL (original and actual) sin. In other words, the guilt and power of sin are banished; freeing us to imitate Jesus.

 

So walking in the light makes it possible to have fellowship with one another. Walking in the light is made possible by the blood of Jesus. If we are not in fellowship with our fellow followers of Jesus then we are not walking in the light. Nor are we cleansed from all sin by the blood of Jesus. We are still being strangled by sin. Sometimes we feel it, sometimes we don't...

The simple solution to our quandary is to write off those we are not in fellowship with as NOT being followers of Jesus. This simple solution helps us sleep at night. Trouble is its dead wrong. Wesley observed “the imitation of God being the only sure proof of our having fellowship with him.”

 

On that note, I’ll leave you to have a “good think.”