Happy Sunday!
This is my favorite day of the week. Unfortunately, this is the first Sunday since I've been at college that I've actually had a chance to slow down and read God's word and reflect on it (two Sundays ago I was flying here, and last Sunday was very chaotic with Hurricane Irene). Anyway, though I try to read my bible as much as I can during the week, it's been very difficult to focus on the word without getting distracted by thoughts of classes, activities, and other silly day to day complications. This morning though, I read a passage in 1 John 1-2 that struck a chord with me, and I'd like to share it with you.
1 John 1-2 discusses the most important choice we have as humans: whether to walk in the light or in the darkness.
1 John 1:5-7 states: "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 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, purifies us from all sin."
Though the choice between these two contrasting options seemed easy at first glance, the more I read and reread the short passage, the more unsure I became. God is light, that I understood. But darkness? In my mind, walking in darkness is more difficult to define. Especially being at Haverford.
The thing about Haverford College is everyone you meet is friendly. There are no exclusive groups on campus, and everyone is welcome at all activities. Everyone is kind. Already I've had people offer to give and lend me their old text books (a huge blessing--most books are well over $100). One friend offered to lend me her bicycle for a day. I never have trouble finding the help I need. In high school, this wasn't always the case. The point? I am living with people who have hearts strikingly similar to mine--kind and generous. It's hard to imagine anyone here walking in darkness.
This brings me to the question: What defines walking in the darkness versus walking in the light? The passage claims that walking in the light means being in fellowship with God. What exactly qualifies as being in fellowship with God? As my description of Haverford students reveals, their lives (though they are not necessarily Christians) are not so different from mine. The act of walking in the darkness is also not so clearly defined. So lets read on.
1 John 2:5-6 states, "This is how we know we are in him: Whosoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
This bold statement answered my previous questions. Though it may seem there is a fine line between walking in darkness and in the light, especially when surrounded with wonderful people who are of all different faiths, the answer is this: to walk in the light, you must walk as Jesus did. Otherwise, you can conclude that you are walking in darkness. 1 John 2:11 equates with being blind: "he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him."
Though I try to walk in the light, there are so many times when I am blinded by darkness. After dissecting this passage, I know the question I need to ask myself daily: "Am I walking as Jesus did?" Though I know it won't be easy, I am determined for my answer to be yes.
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