Whenever brethren and sisters in Christ assemble together it is always fitting to (1) Remind ourselves of our hope and privileges (2) Remind ourselves of him who made this possible and (3) Remind ourselves of the responsibilities attendant with our privilege’s. All of these find expression in the chapter in John read this morning.
Let us look again at this chapter (1 John 1-1, 2) “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness . . )” Described here in impressive language is the author and finisher of our faith (even the Lord Jesus Christ) who was a physical manifestation of the attributes of God:
- His Word, which He has magnified above His Name
- His character, as exemplified in His son Jesus
- His great plan of salvation that He has offered to men.
For John continues “and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.” Here was the foundation upon which the early disciples had built an impregnable faith! Notice the conviction and confidence with which John declares his faith in Christ. There’s no wavering, No doubting; he says, “That which we have seen and heard, declared we unto you.” Why? So that when others could confess a like degree of conviction and confidence they might enjoy their fellow ship— for he continues, “that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”
So then after establishing the bond of their fellowship in Christ and reminding them that Christ was the physical manifestation of the Word of God, John continues with a statement which is marvellous in its simplicity and yet which embraces the whole counsel of God! Verse 5— “This then, is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.” A simple message but oh, how full of meaning! The next verse contains a sobering warning . . . “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” But, (and here is the touchstone for acceptable fellowship with Christ) “ if we walk in the light, as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His son, cleanseth us from all sin.” It is plain to see from this verse that fellowship (one with another and with Christ) and forgiveness of sins( through the blood of Christ) is conditional on the state described as walking in light.
To walk in light . . . this phrase suggests so many avenues of thought, it’s difficult to know which to explore. One that appeals to me concerns the fact that light, particularly white light represents a combination of all the colours blended into one— none are lacking; while darkness or blackness, on the other hand, is the absence of all color. This can easily be demonstrated by shining a beam of light through a triangular shaped piece of glass called a prism, which refracts or bends it so that all the colors of the spectrum can be seen. The rainbow is a common example of this. It is caused when sunlight strikes moisture in the air; the raindrops act as little prisms which break down the while light of the sun into all the component colors of the rainbow.
Using this same idea let us take the word, Light, and pass it through a spiritual prism to see what its component parts convey to us. What do we see? Well, instead of one word, light, it has been expanded (just like the white light was expanded to various colours) into five words; each one bearing a relation to the original and when combined with each other form the light . . . the white light of righteousness . . . the light in which we as followers of Christ, should walk.
The first word that we see formed from the first letter L, of the original and this could only be Love, for to walk in light, one must walk with love. We have just read that God is light and w e know from other scriptures as well as from the mercies that He has extended to His children, that God is love; so the two words, though different, are very synonmous. The Apostle John, who is known as the apostle of love, continues in the second chapter, verse 8, “Again a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him (Jesus) and in you: because the darkness is past and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.’
Notice— where there is hate; darkness is there: but where there is love there is light. Love and hatred cannot exist together anymore than light and darkness can. If a room is in darkness and you switch on a light, the darkness disappears. Remove the light again and darkness returns; but never can they exist together.
There is of course the same comparison between Love and Hatred. Should there ever have been a time when hatred existed in our hearts, the love of God which must develop within us, should forever dispel that hatred, just as light dispels the darkness. If hatred in any form or degree exists, then it is evident that the light of Gods love is not there. It would be wishful thinking and we’d just be fooling ourselves, to believe otherwise. For in the 4th chapter of this epistle John adds, “ He that loveth not; knoweth not God, for God is love. If a man say I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” “It’s an impossibility of course and so we see the logic in the commandment that follows, “ He who loveth God, loves his brother also.
The second letter in the refracted word light is I and we will call this, Intelligence, for to walk in light is certainly to walk intelligently. We should know why we are walking a certain path. Here is where a majority of the self-styled Christian people of the world stumble and fall. Many walk in love, of this we have no doubt, but too many are following blindly those who are not qualified to lead. They use their hearts but not their eyes to search out the way for themselves and so they stumble, bearing out the words of Jeremiah who said that it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps; and those of Christ in speaking of the ecclesiastical leaders of his day saying, “ Let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind, and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” But we are exhorted to be children of light, that there be none occasion of stumbling in us.
We must use the mental facilities that God has given us and we must search the scriptures, not just pass an examination and then forget it, but it must be a continual process o f study. We are reminded of the familiar words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, words that every Sunday School scholar as well as brethren and sisters should take to heart . . . . “ Study to show thyself approved of God.” The fact that we are here this morning is an indication that we desire God’s approval, so the admonition is plain, “ Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
To walk in light then, is to walk intelligently; to have a solid foundation for our faith in God. However it goes even further than this. The Apostle Paul said in writing to the brethren in Rome, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (or a service of reason or intelligence). He is saying here that to do the service of the Lord, to submit yourselves unto His will, to wholly follow Him (to present your bodies a living sacrifice) is not to be looked upon as some terrific ordeal; is no martyrdom; is not religious fanaticism: but it is an intelligent, reasonable service. A recognition that God knows what is best for us. A realisation that we are not giving up anything to serve God, but that we are gaining something, and that His way, His service is for our ultimate good. In the world people think it’s smart to be different, smart to be self-assertive, smart to rebel at authority; but we know that this is the way of darkness and not light. We have been told that man’s ways are not God’s ways and so let us listen to Him who is all-wise and who has said that the intelligent, reasonable way to live is in service to Him. This is the way of light.
The third word that finds its origin in light starts with the letter G and could appropriately be termed Gentleness. We think it appropriate to include gentleness in our breakdown of the word light because it is enumerated by the Apostle Paul as one of the characteristics of those who display the fruit of the spirit. He recognised that it was not a natural trait of man but rather that man left to himself seeks to magnify and justify himself and to cater to the pride of the carnal mind. So he exhorts in the 5th chapter of Galatians after describing ’ the fruit of the spirit saying, “But they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Yes, we must learn to subdue the old man of the flesh, nail it to the cross, so to speak, subdue the harshness and the anger we sometimes feel and develop instead, gentleness, meekness, humility and compassion. However, this does not mean that we cannot rebuke one who is erring from the light. In fact the Apostle Paul’s instruction to Timothy in this respect is even more stringent than we practice today. He said, “Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” So sometimes rebuke is necessary but even then, or I should say, especially then, should it be done with gentleness, intelligence and love.
Webster gives an interesting definition for gentle, one that seems to be a challenge to any who calls himself a follower of Christ. It reads like this, Of the character befitting a person of good birth. From a natural viewpoint this would mean that if a person were born of a good family, one held in reputation in a community, that it would be fitting to such a one to develop a good character, to be gentle among other things, so as to not bring reproach upon his family or his community. You can easily see the analogy here to the family of God. We have been born of water into this family, with God as our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ as our elder brother. At the present time there could be no higher, no greater, no more Honorable birth than this. Are we then developing the characteristics (gentleness, humility and all the others) that befit such a birth? Are we doing all that we can to uphold the family name and to be careful not to bring reproach upon it? It’s necessary that we do, if we would attain unto the greater blessing of the birth of the spirit and remain in God’s family for eternity. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy was that “the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men.”
The fourth letter of the word light is H and we chose to designate this as Hospitality. It is fitting, I believe, that hospitality should be associated with light. Our every day experiences show this to be true. When we want our homes to look cheery and hospitable, we bathe them in light: and we know that there’s nothing less inviting than a dark, sombre eerie place. When we go shopping, if we had to choose between two stores we’d go to the one that was brightly lighted, because psychologically, light is-associated with hospitality. This is evidenced too, by the holiday seasons which are noted for their hospitality, with cheery hearths, gaily lighted homes and deeds of kindness . . . Yes . . . light and hospitality are inseparable.
Now, this trait is not strictly confined to the children of light, by any means, but is one that must be displayed by them; and it is a characteristic that distinguishes Christadelphian ecclesias the world over. We have had a good demonstration of this right here in Southern California, especially in the last two years, when brethren and sisters from many parts of the world have come here for Bible School. It is to the credit of the local brethren and sisters that there were always enough offers to house and entertain our visitors, in fact I think that some were disappointed that there weren’t enough visitors to go around. This is the spirit of hospitality that is part of the make-up of the children of light. And is this not the way it should be? Are we not all members of the same family? We are brethren and sisters in Christ and therefore (being knit together in love and in the fellowship of the Father and of His son) serving each other, doing things for each other, being hospitable one to another, must be a result of this relationship. To be anything else, would not be consistent with those who would walk in light. To this the Apostle Peter also agrees, exhorting in the 4th chap. of his 1st Epistle, “ Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”
It is significant that in the only picture of the judgment seat of Christ that is given in the Bible, the basis for acceptance or rejection there, is hospitality or service. (Matt. 25-34) “ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world .” And what was the reason for this blessing? Why did they receive this gracious invitation to enter the kingdom? Christ supplies the answer, “ For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” When these who had been so blessed express amazement and astonishment that they had thus ministered unto Christ, he said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” To minister then, to our brethren and sisters is to perform this service for Christ. How important then is the necessity of hospitable service to all the family of God. Our homes and our hearts must always be open to every need. So Hospitality is one of the attributes of light, and its prominence springs from the fact that it is an outward expression of love.
The last letter of the word light is T and immediately we think of Truth. There are so many testimonies linking light with truth, and darkness with error (such as Isaiah records in his 8th chap. saying, “ To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them .” ) There are so many of these and they are so well known that it is not necessary to draw this analogy any further. However perhaps a note of warning might be in order.
Day after day, headlines leap at us from every paper, with signs that the coming of Christ is near. Undoubtedly, we are living in the time of the end’— a time that is to be characterized by a tremendous increase of material knowledge, but spiritually and morally, it is to be a time of darkness. Isaiah in describing conditions prior to Christ’s return says, “Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people.” Now this is a description of the time in which we live! Are we immune from this darkness? I don’t think so! The only way that we can keep in check this darkness that surrounds us— the only way that we can keep it from enveloping us, is to dispel it with the bright, clear, shining, light of the Truth. You know, at one time there was actually thick darkness in all the land of Egypt, but in the homes of the children of Israel there was light. There was light there because God was there. So if we expect God to be with us, we must reverence, we must elevate His Word; we must strive to keep the light of the Truth shining brightly in our homes and in the ecclesias.
Now you might think that this is such an elementary fact, that you wonder why I even mention it. Well, the Apostle Paul was concerned with it. He foresaw the spiritual darkness that was to come, and he knew that the ecclesias, too, would feel its effect. He left us the warning that in the last days perilous times shall come; and after exhorting Timothy to be instant in season and out of season, he said, “For the time shall come when they will not endure sound doctrine.” From his words to the Ephesian elders we can see that the brotherhood itself is not exempt from this “last days” condition. He said, “Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” These scriptural warnings, brethren and sisters, should serve to keep us ever alert to the possibility of error creeping in to dim the brightness of the Truth, a brightness that must be maintained as a bulwark against the night of darkness. So we can see the wisdom contained in the counsel of John, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God.” Here is the touchstone o f Truth— “to the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them .”
And so we have taken the word Light and expanded it into five component parts of Love, Intelligence, Gentleness, Hospitality and Truth; and just as in the natural figure where it takes a blending of all the colours to produce white, so in the spiritual, all these characteristics must be blended, must be moulded together in one whose desire is to be clothed upon with the white robe of righteousness. In the natural again— if one colour is removed, the blending of the remaining colours will not produce white; similarly, if one of the characteristics of which we have been speaking is missing, the resultant blend would not meet the conditions that are necessary to walk in light. There must be love, there must be Intelligent services; Gentleness and Hospitality must be displayed; and of course, these all must be combined with truth.
And so, the challenging question that faces each of us, is— Are we children of light? Are we? Each must resolve this for himself.
As we now prepare to remember him who is the light of the world, should we not search ourselves to see whether we reflect those characteristics that find their perfect embodiment in our Lord? Especially is this needful today, for in the Eastern sky we can see the rays that beckon the rising o f the Sun o f Righteousness. Soon our Lord will come to bathe the whole world in the light of the Truth. Will we find refuge in those healing beams? The answer is being written every day of our lives! If, when he comes, he finds us walking as children of light, then undoubtedly, we shall be permitted to share his brightness and to shine forth as the stars in our Father’s kingdom.
“Sorrow may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Think of Christ on the morning o f the resurrection.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One