Walking in the Light

The Lord our God radiates holiness, majesty, and glory. Perhaps you remember:

meeting w/ God on Mt Sinai to receive the Law made Moses’ face shine w/ unbearable brightness,

in King Solomon’s day, the glory of the Lord forces priests and Levites to leave the temple as it’s dedicated

Jesus’ appearance in bright light after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven leaves Paul blind for days.

All week long, our daily Bible readings highlighted God’s majestic glory. God’s holiness shines in today’s reading from 1st John. John writes:

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (5b).

Here’s the amazing part: you are invited to walk in the light of God; to find pleasure and comfort in God’s holiness, majesty, and glory. John picks up a theme found in psalms like Ps. 89:

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

love and faithfulness go before you.

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,

who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. Psalm 89:14–15 (NIV)

It’s amazing, isn’t it?

With all the obstacles and barriers to having the Lord God Almighty as your heavenly Father, you’re still invited to bask in the light of his love, to be aware of his constant presence, and to be transformed in the light, holiness, and love streaming from God’s face.

It might sound too good to be true but having us dwell in his glorious presence forever is God’s plan, his goal. Having people live w/ him was the goal when God created humankind. I wish I could walk w/ God the way Adam & Eve did daily in the Garden of Eden. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Tragically, Adam & Eve’s beautiful intimacy with Almighty God was derailed when they rebelled. They chose a dark path, turning their back on the Lordtheir Creator even though he told them that disobedience leads to death. Their sin and loss of innocence awoke guilt and shame.

Our first parents squirmed uncomfortably at the sound of God approaching them in all his majesty and righteousness. Their dark thoughts and deeds robbed them of the ability to enjoy God’s holiness and righteousness. When God came close, radiating with goodness, they hid in the shadow of the trees.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe the idea of having God’s light shine in the dark corners of your life makes you squirm too. True story: I don’t like confessing my wrongdoing, disobedience, or sin before God very much either. I hate doing things wrong, hurting others, offending God.

In this letter, John addresses that awkwardness. Although there are those in John’s day – and ours – who deny sin or seek to lower God’s standards for holiness, John speaks about sin quite openly. He invites you to be honest with his “if” statements:

If we claim to be without sin,

we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

It’s a simple reality among people since Adam & Eve: all people sin. Jesus is the only human who didn’t.

Denying your sin and guilt doesn’t deal with the problem. Denying sin doesn’t make you righteous just like denying cancer or mental illness doesn’t make you a healthy person. Denying your addiction or broken bones doesn’t mean you’re hale and hearty. Right?

Denial and self-deception only complicate the problem of sin. It adds layers of disobedience and lies b/t you and all God’s goodness and truth. The only way forward is to speak the truth about your disobedience. Have you heard the saying: “admitting the problem is half the battle?”

That leads to John’s next “if” statement:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:8–9 (NIV)

God offers to forgive you in the gospel. Matthew gives that reassurance in the Christmas story. An angel told Joseph:

She [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

The story of God’s rescue plan fills the rest of the gospel.

Jesus lived a righteous life, obeying God’s instructions for holy living. Jesus’ life is described in the daily Bible readings this week. In Matt. 4, Jesus demonstrates how to resist the temptations and evil suggestions of the devil in the wilderness. Then Jesus teaches what righteousness looks like, in Mt 5+.

Throughout the gospel, Jesus gives a taste of life in God’s presence by healing those who are ill. He releases people who are captive to the forces of evil. He describes what the kingdom of heaven is like in stories and vivid word pictures.

Matthew describes how Jesus was condemned to die. He was executed on a cross, where God the Father put our sin and guilt on Jesus, so that you can be forgiven and purified from all unrighteousness. In fact, by faith in Jesus, the bright white garments of his righteousness get draped over your shoulders.

Having Jesus cover your sins and clothe you in his goodness makes it possible for you to feel at home in God’s presence. Jesus’ life and death and resurrection make it possible for you to have fellowship with God and other believers, as John says in vs. 3:

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. I John 1:3 (NIV)

Jesus came and conquered sin and death and the evil one. He opened the way for you to come into God’s presence without fear or shame. All who say, “Yes, Jesus, help me too,” are forgiven and made clean from all unrighteousness.

This weekend marks a turning point in the calendar. Today is the last day of the year of our Lord 2023. Tomorrow is the first day of the year of our Lord 2024. Many people make resolutions or write goals for the New Year.

Our reading from I John invites you to make a fresh commitment too. John says his whole goal in writing is “so that you will not sin.” It’s a big aspiration; a lofty goal. It’s a goal that takes self-control, yet you cannot make much progress alone. It takes the transforming work of God’s Word and Spirit to make changes in your life and for us to pursue holy living together as a congregation.

How will you grow in your knowledge of what holiness looks like this year?

How will you find pleasure in being close to God this year?

Will you take time to bask in the brilliant light of God’s holiness, goodness, and deep, deep love?

It takes discipline and commitment. It calls for time in prayer and meditating on Bible passages. Some people like strictly regimented devotions: set times with set Bible readings and journalling; others enjoy the freedom of being more casual and relational. Spending time with God isn’t meant to be burdensome!

Some days your devotions might be as simple as sitting in the bright sunshine and meditating on Jesus’ call for you to walk in the light as he is in the light.

I know you’re busy w/ lots of project, plans, and goals, but walking in the light of God is important; life-giving. Yet sometimes we get stalled. Our journey of faith hits a plateau. If that describes where your journey of faith is at, you might want to examine where you’re at. Take a deep breath and talk to God about it. I assure you: the HS will show you the way forward.

In 2023, we saw 9 people affirm or publicly profess their faith and commit to a lifestyle as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and members of Crosspoint. André Roelofsen plans to profess his faith in our worship service next Sunday. Is that a commitment or reaffirmation you’d like to make in 2024?

Those are actions you can do;

maybe there are things you need to stop doing, places you ought to avoid b/c going there, being w/ those people, pulls you away from the light of God’s presence.

Some people commit to working on their physical fitness at New Years by swearing off chocolate and joining a gym. Is 2024 the year you’ll work on your spiritual fitness by tackling your addiction to drugs, alcohol, or pornography and joining a small group or 12-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous or contacting Teen Challenge?

You’re called to walk as children of the Light; to live as a child of God.