Darkness

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 1 John 1:5-6

On the other hand, I a writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 1:8-11

John the Beloved, the youngest apostle who always leans to Jesus had practically been so immersed in the Lord that he repeated the very words of Jesus. In his letter he emphasized that the message we have heard from Him (Jesus) is the same thing he announces to others. He said that God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all. We may be wondering what is this type of darkness he mentioned. Darkness is not simply the absence of light as in the natural but what the apostle John meant is spiritual darkness. If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, Redeemer and Lord of our lives we are now in the light and no longer lives in darkness. But we need to take note that hating our brother (a brother/sister means any person outside of our self) is simply saying we are still living in the dark. God's kingdom operates in love. The Greatest Commandment says, Love God above all and the next commandment is 'Love thy neighbor as thyself. Hatred is the exact opposite of love.

Is there someone in your life or around you that you hate or dislike? Maybe you can say, they were mean to me, they've hurt me, and did all kinds of things against me personally, why should I love them? The command, yes that is right, we are commanded to love one another. Not only when you feel like it, but love is a decision. It is not based on the performance of others but is based on God. God is love that's is why He said we need to love and if we hate then we are still operating like worldly people and not redeemed people of God.

One more thing, hatred blinds us. When we hate we don't see the 'good' anymore. We interpret and see everything based on our hatred. Let us examine ourselves, if we are walking in love or hatred. Let us get right with God and ask God's help so that He will turn our hatred to love. He alone can do that miracle in your heart.

Have a nice day!